Alton, Iowa — A car was destroyed in a fire on Thursday, December 16, 2021, in Alton.
According to Alton Fire Chief Quintin Van Es, about 1:35 a.m., the Alton Fire Department was called to the report of a car fire behind the Yard Bar at 1013 Third Avenue in Alton.
The chief says the fire department saw a fully-engulfed Chevy Impala on the body shop lot as they approached the scene. He says the car had been damaged before the fire and had just been sitting on the lot. He says the wind was a factor in extinguishing the fire as it was a cold and blustery night. But he says they had it out within minutes of arrival.
Van Es says no injuries were reported. He says the car had been near some buildings and the Home Improvers building had some siding damage, but nothing major.
He says Orange City firefighters were called too, but he radioed to turn them around once the Alton firefighters knew they could handle it.
He says the cause of the fire is under investigation. They are not sure of the cause of ignition since the car hadn’t been moving and no one appeared to be around. Van Es says the fire was, “a little suspicious, but a mystery too.”
Chief Van Es reports that the vehicle was totaled.
He says the firefighters who responded were on the scene for about an hour, and they were assisted by the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office and the Orange City/Alton Police Department.
