Investigators are searching for the cause of a fire that broke out early this morning (Tuesday) in a giant dome that’s used to store coal in the north-central Iowa town of Williams. Williams Mayor Linda Solberg says it was a big fire which may have originated in the coal chute area along the railroad tracks, which is some 30-feet deep in coal.
Solberg says she was called about 4:30 AM and from her house, could see the flames shooting up from the dome. She was concerned about toxic smoke spreading over the town. Fire crews quickly extinguished the fire. No one is reported hurt. Damage is still being assessed. The dome was built about six years ago as a way to prevent coal dust from blowing throughout town.