Fire heavily damaged an eastern Iowa care facility over the weekend and an arson suspect is in custody. A resident of a special needs facility in Clinton County is charged with setting a fire at the facility in Charlotte and officials are determining what to do with the nearly 90 residents.
The early Saturday morning fire damaged the Community Care facility in Charlotte. The 87 residents were evacuated by the four employees on duty at the time of the fire, before firefighters arrived. As a result of the investigation, 47-year-old Edward Wilson Meyer was charged with first-degree arson. He made a weekend court appearance.
Immediate arrangements were made to house some of the residents at the closed care facility in Jackson County and some were housed at a local motel. Officials of Community Care say they are reviewing the options for using the Clinton County facility and repairing the couple hundred-thousand dollars in damage.