Ashton, Iowa — A storage building and its contents were destroyed in a fire on Sunday, April 21, 2019, in Ashton.
According to Ashton Fire Chief Andy Gacke, about 3:05 p.m., the Ashton Fire Department was called to the report of an abandoned building on fire near 322 Third Avenue in Ashton.
The chief says the fire department saw the roof had partially collapsed and the building was fully engulfed in fire as they approached the scene. He says they used water to fight the fire.
Gacke says one firefighter was hospitalized due to smoke inhalation.
The fire department was assisted by Ashton Community EMS (ACES), the Sibley Ambulance squad, and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
He says the cause of the fire is undetermined.
Chief Gacke reports that the 30′ by 50′ building was totaled in the blaze. According to Gacke, it was a good thing that it was a block building, as it held in some of the heat and may have helped them save two other nearby buildings. He says most of the contents were not of much value, consisting of an old pickup and an old motorcycle, along with several plumbing and electrical parts.
He says the thirteen firefighters who responded were on scene for five hours.
Thanks to Greg Frohwein for the photo.
