Fire destroys home outside Emerson

 Authorities are still investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a home outside Emerson on Wednesday, Dec. 20. 

Emerson firefighters were called to the scene of the blaze at 58935 390th St. at around 1:30 in the afternoon. Mills County Emergency Management coodinator Larry Hurst said the fire’s location and the strong winds made battling the blaze difficult. 

“The winds were about 15-20 miles per hour, and that’s why it burned the way it did. We had four fire departments at the scene, and all four brought personnel, tankers, and engines. The combination of the four departments were likely able to keep the fire from spreading to the three car garage,” said Hurst. 

Hurst said based on aerial photos, and the direction of the wind, they have narrowed down the point of origin.

“It looks like it started in the southeast corner of the house, or on the porch area that went around the house from south to east. A woman made entry shortly before the fire spread and was able to get the pets out of the home. She reported there was no active fire she could see at the time she went in,” Hurst said. 

Firefighters at the scene also had to take some time to put out a field fire adjacent to the home, believed to have been sparked by the fire at the house. 

“It was about 50 yards northwest of the house fire, and we believe the high winds sparked the fire in the field. It kind of caught us off-guard, we had assets trying to put out the fire in the home, and then the field caught fire. I believe Hastings’ multi-functional unit was the one that put out the fire before it got big,” commented Hurst. 

Hurst said the mutual aid from all the participating departments was instrumental in keeping the fire from being much worse, and said it was unfortunate the homeowners had to deal with the aftermath, especially at this time of year, and after the renovation of the home had only recently been finished. 

State fire investigator John Ticer is assisting in the local investigation. Due to safety concerns, Ticer was unable to enter the home. Ticer said he is still investigating the cause with insurance investigators. 

“We’re looking at a potential electrical cause. No one was home at the time of the fire,” said Ticer. 

The Red Oak, Hastings, and Malvern Fire Departments assisted the Emerson Fire Department at the scene.