(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Fire Department personnel were called to the scene of a house fire a little before 10-a.m. today (Monday). Fire Chief Tom Cappel said when they arrived on the scene at 901 Birch Street, there was heavy smoke coming from the interior of the house, which made it difficult to determine where the fire was at first.

Crews made entry into the home from the west side of the structure and into the basement, where Cappel said he was confident that’s where the fire began. Fire crews made entry later on from the south end of the home. Eventually, the structural integrity of the house had been compromised, and the ground floor collapsed into the basement. The second story collapsed into the kitchen. Crews were recalled out of the house before the interior collapsed. Cappel said from there on it was an exterior fire containment effort.

He said they had to wait for the fire to burn up through to the roof, otherwise they would not have been able to get water into the inside of the home. Normally, they would be on the roof, cutting holes for an attack on the interior. Since the house was about 10-to-15 feet away from a house to the south, firefighters worked to protect that structure for fear the house with the fire might collapse toward the exterior instead of the interior.

The neighboring house has extensive smoke damage. Chief Cappel said it was a smokey and hot fire, plus the frigid conditions and formation of ice from the water used on the scene, made it a difficult blaze to contain. Mutual aid was requested and received from the Griswold, Marne and Lewis Fire Departments,. Cass EMS, Atlantic Police and others also provided assistance. Chief Cappel said he was extremely grateful for their help.

Atlantic firefighters finally left the scene at around 5-p.m.

Ric Hanson/photos