Sheldon, Iowa– A former auto dealership building was damaged in a fire on Friday night, March 17, 2017 in Sheldon.
According to Sheldon Second Assistant Fire Chief Randy Harms, about 8:30 p.m., the Sheldon Fire Company was called to the report of a fire at the former Ron Drenkow Motors and Sheldon Highway Service building on old Highway 60 North, across the street to the east from the Hills Park entrance.
The assistant chief says the fire company saw flames coming out of the roof in the middle of the building as they approached the scene. Harms says they initially used their aerial truck for access to the roof, thinking it may be too risky in the building, but they eventually determined it was safe to enter, and they fought the fire from the inside without pumping any water through the aerial truck. He says they used foam to fight the fire.
The fire department asked for manpower mutual aid assistance from the Sanborn Fire Department, who responded to the scene. Harms says it’s standard procedure with a structure fire of this nature to call for assistance before it’s known for sure if it will be needed or not.
He says the cause of the fire is undetermined at this time, but their thought is that it started in the rafters or roof area.
Assistant Chief Harms reports that there was minimal structural damage except for a hole in the roof. He says there is some water damage and there’s smoke damage throughout the building.
Assistant Harms says no injuries were reported.
He says they used about 1000 gallons of water with foam concentrate to fight the fire, and crews were on scene until about 11:45 p.m.
Harms says the Sheldon Emergency Management Agency provided lighting and other assistance at the scene.
Also assisting on the scene says Harms, were the Sheldon Community Ambulance Team and the Sheldon Police Department.
Sheldon, Iowa — Sheldon firefighters were dispatched to a fire in a structure on Highway Boulevard (Old Highway 60), across the street east of Hills Park, around 8:30 Friday evening. Witnesses on the scene tell KIWA that the building on fire is the former Ron Drenkow Motors building.
A short time after arriving on scene, Sheldon firefighters requested mutual aid from the Sanborn Fire Department.
As of 9:30 Friday evening, Sheldon and Sanborn firefighters were still on the scene, along with personnel and equipment from the Sheldon Community Ambulance Team, and the Sheldon Emergency Management Agency.
