An early morning fire destroyed an old building and displaced five families in northeast Iowa. McGregor Fire Chief Dan Bickel says the fire was reported shortly after 1 a.m. in the back of a building that houses Marquette Hardware.
“It was a big two-story, wood frame building with a brick front on it. It was real close to houses on either side and one behind it. We lost three houses, plus the building,” Bickel told Radio Iowa.
The building, which dates back to the 1880s, collapsed. It also housed a beauty parlor and several apartments, at least a couple of which were being rented. “There were five or six apartments on the second floor of that hardware store and everybody got out. Everybody got out of the houses, so we didn’t lose anybody,” Bickel said. “We’re very fortunate.” One firefighter was taken to a hospital, but his injuries were not serious, according to Bickel.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.