• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Fires/Accidents/Disasters / Fire destroys two Oelwein businesses

Fire destroys two Oelwein businesses

May 10, 2010 By Radio Iowa Contributor

A weekend fire destroyed two Oelwein businesses and left several families homeless. Fire crews from Oelwein and several other communities were called out just before 10:30 Friday night to the West Charles Mall antique store and Kirby vacuum cleaner store, where a blaze apparently began in one of the upstairs apartments.

Oelwein Fire Chief Wallace Rundle says crews tried to control the fire in the hallway and thought they were making progress but the flames reached the three ceilings and the attic and “got away from us,” forcing all firefighters to pull out of the building. He says the damage is extensive.

The apartments were gutted by fire, while the first floor is intact but it has heavy water damage.

The vacuum cleaner shop was destroyed. Rundle says it’s fortunate that no one was injured. He says smoke is still rising from some areas as crews work to put out hot spots which remain from the big fire. The chief was asked if they have an indication yet of what may’ve caused the blaze.

The cause is still unknown and all residents of the apartments were at home when the fire broke out, so interviews are continuing. He says it was “kinda’ scary” for some of them to have to evacuate so quickly as the smoke was getting thick. Rundle was also asked if the buildings, located just off the downtown, will have to be torn down.

He says the Kirby store is totaled but the antique store is still intact and he’ll defer to the insurance company about what the next step will be.

By Roger King, KOEL, Oelwein

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters

Featured Stories

Testing finds 21 new CWD cases in deer

It may become a crime in Iowa to use fake urine in workplace drug tests

February trending 18 degrees below average temperature

Iowa House Education Committee votes to end tenure at UI, ISU, UNI

Man convicted of two Muscatine County murders dies in prison

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Key stretch begins for #9 Iowa

Drake’s Roman Penn lost for the season

Drake’s DeVries named to Naismith watch list

State wrestling opens with limited attendance

Iowa’s Wieskamp is B1G Player of the Week

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC