A small northeast Iowa community suffered a big loss in a weekend fire that destroyed two businesses. The Saturday night fire in Alta Vista leveled Gebel Plumbing and Heating, and did considerable damage to Schuchhardt Lumber, located next door. Firefighters from ten communities battled the blaze, preventing the fire from spreading to a neighboring tavern. No one was injured, and authorities have not yet found a cause to the blaze. An inspector from the state fire marshal’s office will be investigating.
