Sheldon, Iowa — A payloader was destroyed in a fire between Sheldon and Hospers on Monday, January 22nd, 2024.
According to Sheldon Fire Chief Brad Hindt, the Sheldon Fire was paged to 4580 370th Street at about 6:30 p.m. for the report of equipment on fire. That’s south of Sheldon on Highway 60 to 370th Street and then east about three-quarters of a mile.
When they got there, firefighters found the engine compartment and underneath a John Deere payloader on fire. Firefighters used about 500 gallons of water and foam to fight the fire.
Hindt tells us the owner stated that he used the loader earlier to move snow, parked it, and went to town but when they returned home, they saw the payloader on fire as they turned down the gravel road. The cause of the fire is undetermined and the payloader is believed to be a total loss.
The Sheldon Community Ambulance Team assisted on the scene. Firefighters were back in service at 8:00 p.m.
Earlier that day, Sheldon firefighters responded to a call at Northwest Iowa Community College. Hindt tells us that at about 4:45, a page went out for a fire alarm at Lyon Hall. He says they found moisture in a sensor head for the system, which caused the alarm. There had been no fire. NCC maintenance staff was going to fix the issue.
