Fire has destroyed a grain elevator in the northwest Iowa town of Hawarden. The blaze began at about six P.M. Thursday night inside the Lambertson Elevator in Hawarden. Flames could be seen shooting through the roof. The blaze was contained by 10 P.M., but was still smoldering this morning. Firefighters from the Hawarden fire department were on the scene all night.
Hawarden Mayor Ric Porter says several buildings surrounding the elevator were saved. Porter says the elevator was a wooden structure with metal on the outside, and as it burned down, fell within itself. No injuries were reported. No one was within the building itself when the fire broke out and all of the employees of Lambertson’s had left the area prior to the fire starting.
The cause of the fire has not been determined. The State Fire Marshal’s office will investigate.