Blaze damages downtown Spencer buildings

Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of a fire Sunday that damaged several businesses and upstairs apartments on Grand Avenue in Spencer.

According to a news release from the Spencer Fire Department, firefighters were dispatched to 215 Grand Ave. Apt. #5 at around 12:30 p.m. The occupant called 911 and advised that she had just gotten home and that there was a lot of smoke in the apartment.

On arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke coming from the second floor windows on the front and rear of 221 Grand Ave. Firefighters deployed attack lines and entered the second floor of 221 Grand Ave., where they encountered heavy smoke and high heat conditions as they pushed towards flames.

The roof started failing during the battle, which forced firefighters to evacuate the second floor of the fire building and transition into a defensive firefighting operation. Elevated streams from two ladder trucks were then used to bring the fire under control.

Almost all occupants evacuated the building on firefighters' arrival. Spencer firefighters assisted one occupant out of the building, and three others were treated at Spencer Hospital emergency room for smoke inhalation. Three pets were also removed from the building and transported to Homestead Small Animal Practice for treatment.

Everly Fire & Rescue and the Spirit Lake Fire Department assisted on the call. According to Everly Fire Chief Brian Kahl, nine members of his crew were on scene throughout the day.

"We basically assisted with manpower and did whatever Spencer needed us to do," he said.

Eventually, Kahl said half of the Everly firefighters made their way to the Spencer Fire Station to serve as backup in case any other calls came in that day. He said the fire was under control around 5 p.m., and they headed for home around 7:30 p.m.

The fire remains under investigation by the Iowa State Fire Marshal. According to the Spencer Fire Department, the second floor and roof at 221 Grand Ave. suffered extreme fire damage with smoke damage throughout the second floor of the adjoining buildings.

Twenty-two Spencer Firefighters responded and were on the scene for approximately eight hours. Also assisting at the scene were Spencer Hospital paramedics, Spencer Police Department, Clay County Sheriff's Office, Clay County Emergency Management, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Enforcement Agency, Iowa DOT Traffic Management Center, Black Hills Energy, Spencer Municipal Utilities, Spencer Street Department and the American Red Cross.