Mother’s Day fire on Pfeiffer Street
Power lines are burned through during a fire on Pfeiffer Street. Press photo by Thomas Nelson.
Charles City police, firefighters and Floyd County Sheriff's deputy help Sue Redmond shortly after her fall, following the eruption of sparks from the fire after it burned through power lines. Press photo by Thomas Nelson.
Charles City firefighters prepare to enter the home after putting out the majority of the outside flames. Press photo by Thomas Nelson.
Charles City Assistant Fire Chief and Training Coordinator Marty Parcher assists during a late night fire on Mothers Day. Press photo by Thomas Nelson.
A fire on Pfeiffer Street burns through the side of the home and melts siding. Press photo by Thomas Nelson.
A fire spreads through the roof of a home on Pfeiffer Street Sunday night. Press photo by Thomas Nelson.
Charles City firefighters spray a burning home on Pfeiffer Street Sunday evening. Press photo by Thomas Nelson.
A fire on Pfeiffer Street engulfs a home. No one was injured from the flames. Press photo by Thomas Nelson.
Firefighters battle a blaze in the attic of a home on Pfeiffer Street Sunday evening. Press photo by Thomas Nelson.
Firefighters battle a blaze in the attic of a home on Pfeiffer Street Sunday evening. Press photo by Thomas Nelson.
By Thomas Nelson, tnelson@charlescitypress.com
Flames from a house fire burned through power lines on the corner of First Avenue and Pfeiffer Street in Charles City Sunday night.
The Charles City Fire Department responded to the fire with 17 firefighters, two engines, an aerial truck and a command vehicle, according to a press release from the department.
No residents were injured from the fire. Neighbor Sue Redmond was taken by ambulance to Floyd County Medical Center to be treated for an injury after responders arrived at the scene.
Redmond and her husband, Steve, are neighbors to the home and were watching the fire near where the house was connected to power lines. The fire burned through the power lines and caused sparks to erupt, and Redmond fell, injuring her arm.
Redmond was transported to the Floyd County Medical Center, where she was admitted and listed in stable condition Monday afternoon, according to Medical Nurse Manager Kathy Haus.
According to the Fire Department, firefighters found the fire was above the ceiling in the attic. Firefighters attempted ventilating the roof, but fire had expanded across the home’s entire attic space, and having firefighters on the roof was a hazard to their safety.
Firefighters inside the home tore down ceilings to extinguish the fire from inside the home. There was heavy fire damage to the attic and roof, and major water damage to the rest of the home.
Once the fire caused the power lines to come down, the ensuing sparks prompted the Fire Department to move onlookers farther from the flames. MidAmerican Energy was called after the power lines broke.
Travis McRoberts, a resident of the home, said he didn’t know when the fire started or what the cause was. He and his wife were renting the home.
The owner, Jerry Redmond, said he had done work on the home in the previous year on central heating and air conditioning.
“We’ve kept it in pretty good shape,” Redmond said.
The fire did not spread to neighboring homes, although a nearby home was evacuated.
The fire remains under investigation, but the fire started outside near the front door, and may have possibly be caused by improperly discarded smoking material, according to a press release from the Fire Department.
The fire fighters were back to the station by 1:15 a.m.
The Charles City Fire Department was assisted by Charles City Police Department, Floyd County Sheriff, AMR Ambulance, Floyd County Search and Rescue and MidAmerican Energy.
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