An electrical short is being blamed for a large fire in western Iowa on July 4. Jeff Cullen, an inspector with the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office, says the fire destroyed the building in downtown Audubon.
“The most likely cause we’re coming up with right now is there was an electrical issue behind one of the appliances in the kitchen area in the rear of the building,” Cullen said. The fire was reported around noon on July 4.
Audubon firefighters were joined by crews from Atlantic, Brayton, Adair, Exira, Manning, and Templeton. Many of the fire trucks had been participating in a parade in Exira. No one was injured. Audubon’s mayor said the top of the building was vacant and the lower floor was used primarily for storage.