(Red Oak, Iowa) – A law enforcement officer suffered minor injuries during a residential structure fire Tuesday evening, in Red Oak. Red Oak Fire Chief John Bruce the blaze at 1903 200^th Street was reported at around 6:49-p.m.

The first crews at the scene reported a heavy fire coming from the north side of the residence, with the blaze extending to the first floor. Firefighters conducted defensive exterior ground operations before moving inside the structure to suppress the fire. Three adults and one child evacuated the home without injury.

The law enforcement officer was injured while assisting with a hose hook-up to the fire hydrant. The officer was treated and released from the hospital.

Photo courtesy the Red Oak Fire Dept.

Chief Bruce said the fire begin with wind driven embers from a fire pit located about 10 yards to the north of the residence. Those embers ignited the vegetation along a fence line, and started the northwest portion of the first floor on fire. The blaze eventually breached the first-floor windows, and entered the residence. The home sustained extensive fire, smoke, and water damage.

Mutual aid was requested from the Stanton and Elliott fire departments. Additional entities at the scene included Essex Rescue, Officers with the Red Oak Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies, MidAmerican Utilities, and the American Red Cross. Montgomery County Communications was also a part of the emergency response.