Spencer, Iowa– (KICD) — Extensive damage is being reported to a building in Downtown Spencer as a result of fire that required work from three local fire departments and number of other agencies Sunday afternoon.
Spencer Fire and Rescue was initially called shortly after 12:30 to an apartment at 215 Grand Avenue after the occupant called 911 reporting smoke inside when she arrived home. Upon arrival at the scene, firefighters found heavy smoke coming from the second floor windows at both the front and rear of 221 Grand Avenue with heavy smoke and high heat conditions being reported once inside.
Fire Chief John Conyn tells KICD News, crews were later forced to evacuate the second floor of the building when the roof began to fail. That led to a hole being cut in the roof to help set up a “defensive” attack on ladder trucks from Spencer and Spirit Lake which continued until six o’clock Sunday evening.
Fire crews assisted one occupant in evacuating the structure with three people being treated for smoke inhalation at Spencer Hospital. Three pets were also located and taken to a veterinarian for treatment.
The second floor and roof of 221 Grand Avenue is said to suffered extreme fire damage with smoke damage throughout the upper level of adjoining buildings. Variable amounts of water damage were also reported to several lower level businesses.
In total, 22 firefighters from Spencer spent around eight hours at the scene with additional manpower provided by the Everly and Spirit Lake Fire Departments
The cause of the fire remains under investigation and we are told the State Fire Marshall will be called in to investigate.
Don Hemphill owns four of the buildings which contained eight upstairs housing units, and four businesses: The Hemphill Law Firm at 215 Grand Avenue, Body Massage at 217, Biscuits and Barks Pet Grooming at 219 and Edge Boutique at 221. Mas Amigos Restaurant occupied the building directly to the North at 223 and 225 Grand Avenue. Hemphill told us that ironically the buildings he owned were standing already, but not harmed in the Great Spencer Fire of 1931.
Also assisting at the scene was the Spencer Police Department, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Management, Spencer Hospital and the American Red Cross.
