UPDATE – 7-25-2022: Montgomery County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Hamman, today (Monday) reports “After a joint investigation by the Red Oak Fire Department and Iowa State Fire Marshall’s Office, the cause and manner of the apartment fire has been determined to be an accident and electrical in nature.”

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At approximately 2:14pm, Sunday, the Montgomery County Communications Center received multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting an upstairs apartment fire at 615 N 3rd Street in Red Oak, located just north of the downtown square. Officers of the Red Oak Police Department arrived on scene immediately and confirmed all occupants were out of the structure prior to Red Oak Fire arriving on scene. Red Oak Fire arrived on scene within 4 minutes of being paged and requested a second alarm structure fire response bringing additional crews from the Stanton Fire Department, Elliott Fire Department and additional aerial support from the Glenwood Fire Department.

Photos courtesy Brian Hamman, Montgomery County Emergency Management.

Fire crews made an immediate and aggressive interior attack of the fire and were able to contain the fire to the origin apartment. Smoke and water damage is throughout the entire structure.
The American Red Cross was contacted to assist five displaced adults due to the fire.

No injuries to any occupants or firefighters on scene however two cats were located deceased and unable to be revived at the scene after attempts were made