Sheldon, Iowa — One person was taken to the hospital after a house fire that caused severe damage overnight Wednesday into Thursday in Sheldon.
According to Sheldon Fire Chief Brad Hindt, firefighters were paged a couple minutes before 3:00 a.m. to 1611 East 9th Street for the report of a house on fire. That’s about three blocks east of Washington Avenue.
When they got there, Hindt says firefighters found flames coming out the front window and heavy fire in the living room. The occupants had already exited the house.
But Hindt says one male occupant had severe burns to his body. Aid was given on scene to the victim by a Sheldon Police officer and assistant chief until the Sheldon Community Ambulance Team (SCAT) arrived on the scene. The victim was transported to Sanford Sheldon Hospital by SCAT for treatment and then later was flown to Minneapolis for further treatment of his burns.
The chief says firefighters made a quick exterior attack through the front window, quickly knocking down the fire, then made an aggressive interior attack to extinguish the fire quickly and began overhaul, looking for hot spots.
He tells us the fire caused severe damage to the living room in the front of the house and heat and smoke damage throughout the house.
Hindt says no cause has yet been determined. He says the cause of the fire is under investigation.
He says the Sheldon Police Department, Sheldon Community Ambulance Team, O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office, O’Brien County EMA, and Mid-American Energy Company assisted firefighters.
Sheldon Fire was back in service at 5:30 a.m.
Hindt says, “This house fire could have been much worse since there where NO working smoke detectors present. Sheldon Fire wants to remind everyone of the importance of a working smoke detector.” The chief says, “Please install, test or replace smoke detectors. Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area (like a hallway), and one each level (including the basement) of the home.”
