Sioux Center, Iowa — A historic display house and several antiques at the Sioux County Fairgrounds were destroyed in a fire on Thursday, November 5, 2015 in Sioux Center.
According to Sioux Center Fire Chief David Van Holland, about 2:40 PM, the Sioux Center Fire Department was called to the report of structure fire at Heritage Village at the Sioux County Fairgrounds, on Sioux Center’s northeast side.
The chief says the fire department saw flames coming through the house’s siding as they approached the scene. He says they used water to fight the fire, which spread rapidly due to the house’s balloon construction. That means there are no boards between the studs and the fire can quickly move up or down the walls.
Van Holland reports that there were no injuries to people, pets, or livestock.
The fire department was assisted by the Hull Fire Department and Sioux Center Ambulance Crew.
He says the cause of the fire is unknown but is quite suspicious.
No damage amount has been assigned to the fire or the damaged and destroyed antiques.
He says they used 4000 to 5000 gallons of water to fight the fire, and crews were on scene for an hour and a half.
Chief Van Holland went on to say that this is only the latest in a string of fires that Sioux Center authorities think were suspicious in nature.
According to Sioux Center Police Chief Paul Adkins, this is the fifth fire in Sioux Center that the Fire Department has responded to in the last several months. He says authorities strongly believe that all these fires were started intentionally. An investigation will continue until the situation has been resolved.
The Sioux Center Police Department reports that their office, along with the Sioux Center Fire Department and the State Fire Marshall’s office are actively involved in this investigation. If anyone has any information regarding these fires, or if you see or notice any unusual or suspicious activity in or around the community, they ask you to contact the Sioux Center Police Department.
