-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
Fort Dodge firefighters work at the scene of a small fire in a house at 262 Ave. O West Thursday afternoon. The fire was reported at 2:25 p.m. when one of the residents, who was out in the yard, saw black smoke coming from a basement window. Firefighters found light smoke on the main floor and heavy back smoke in the basement. According to Assistant Fire Chief Matt Price, the cause of the smoke was a small fire involving a dehumidfier and a recliner that was next to it. He said firefighters put a small amount of water on it to extinguish it. He said the fire started in the dehumidifier, which he described as “melted pile of goo,” and spread to the recliner. Fort Dodge police also responded to the fire.