KIWA Staff Photo
Rock Rapids, Iowa — A barn was damaged in a fire on Saturday, June 13, 2026, near Rock Rapids.
According to Rock Rapids Fire Chief Eric Borman, at about 12:30 p.m., the Rock Rapids Fire Department was called to the report of a barn on fire at 2968 170th Street, a mile south and a mile and a half west of Rock Rapids.
When they got there, the chief says the fire department saw the roof of the barn lightly on fire. He says the George Fire Department is also normally called for structure fires in Rock Rapids’ district. But Borman says he told them they didn’t have to come. He says Rock Rapids firefighters started with an external attack and then went inside the haymow to attack it from the bottom.
Borman says no injuries were reported to people, pets, or livestock.
He says the cause of the fire appeared to be sparks from a burn pile.
Chief Borman reports that the damage was minimal, as the barn was beyond repair before the fire even started. Some old hay did burn, but he says those on the farm had put that out before firefighters arrived. Borman says the barn will probably be burned down in a controlled burn this fall.
He says the firefighters who responded were on the scene for about an hour.
Borman tells us the firefighters were also called out earlier last week for an unattended burn. He says the fire happened a couple of miles south of the middle of town. He says the owners had removed an old grove and were burning two piles of trees, but the fire was unattended when a deputy arrived, and it had not been called into dispatch. Plus, they found a granary also on fire. The fire had been reported by a passerby. Borman says since it was unattended, they put out the whole fire.
Borman reminds us that they want people to call in their controlled burns. He says this is not just during dry times, but all the time. He says it prevents false fire department calls when passersby call in the fire. Borman says to call in your fire, call the sheriff’s office non-emergency line and give them the location and intended time you plan to burn.
