Orange City, Iowa — A house received major damage, possibly totaling the home in a fire on Saturday, July 2, 2022, near Orange City.
According to Orange City Fire Chief Denny Vander Wel, at about 12:50 p.m., the Orange City Fire Department was called to the report of a house fire at 4108 Jay Avenue, three miles north of Orange City and a mile east.
The chief says the fire department saw smoke on front side of the ranch-style home when they got there. He says they found heavy black smoke coming out of a basement window on the rear, with the homeowner spraying water with a garden hose. He says they determined that the origin of the fire was in the basement of the home.
Vander Wel says a crew of three firefighters went in thru the garage entrance to the basement. He says they encountered zero visibility and high heat. He tells us the female occupant had to leave through a window.
The chief tells us there was severe damage in the basement, with charred I-beam floor joists and holes burned thru them. He also reported high heat and smoke damage on the main floor of the house because of an open stairway into the hallway and kitchen area.
Vander Wel says the female occupant may have sustained minor injuries escaping through the window.
The fire department was assisted by Alton firefighters and a Rapid Intervention Team from Sioux Center. (That’s a rescue team to resuce firefighters if they go down in the building.)
He says the cause of the fire appeared to be the failure of a triple outlet adapted into a light fixture. He says sparks rained down on clothing that was draped over a wooden rod.
Chief Vander Wel reports that there was extensive damage, and estimated it would cost well over $100,000 to repair, so it could be totaled.
He says the firefighters who responded were on the scene until about 5:00 p.m.
