Hospers, Iowa — Eight different buildings and their contents were destroyed in a fire on Monday, May 1, 2023, near Hospers.
According to Hospers Fire Chief Jason Overmole, at about 12:25 p.m., the Hospers Fire Department was called to the report of two buildings on fire at 4190 410th Street, two miles west and a mile south of Hospers.
The chief says the fire department saw heavy smoke and flames as they approached the scene. He says there were at least three large structures on fire.
Overmole says no injuries were reported to people, pets, or livestock.
The fire department was assisted by Granville firefighters through their auto aid agreement as well as the Alton, Orange City, Boyden, and Sioux Center fire departments.
He says the cause of the fire is officially undetermined and still under investigation, but is believed to be embers from a burning pile that hadn’t been used for several days that rekindled in the strong wind. He says there were people there earlier, but they had left for lunch.
Chief Overmole reports that eight buildings were totaled, including three large ones, and all their contents. He says a worker’s pickup was also destroyed, as well as some older tractors and miscellaneous scrap.
He says the firefighters who responded were on the scene for about five and a half hours.
