(KIWA Staff Photo [AI enhanced])Lester, Iowa — A corn crib was destroyed in a fire on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, near Lester.
According to Lester Fire Chief Toby Metzger, at about 4:10 a.m., the Lester Fire Department was called to the report of a shed fire near 180th Street and Dove Avenue, three miles south of Lester.
When they got there, the chief says the fire department saw a 50-by-50-foot old corn crib fairly fully engulfed in flame. He says their strategy quickly became containing the fire to the one building.
Metzger says no injuries were reported and no livestock or pets were involved.
The Alvord Fire Department provided assistance, says Metzger.
He says the cause of the fire is undetermined, as it was difficult to draw any conclusions since the building was nearly totally destroyed when they arrived and was completely totaled when they left.
He says the firefighters who responded were on the scene for about two hours.
