(Spirit Lake)– A house north of Camp Foster was extensively damaged by fire Saturday night.
The Spirit Lake Fire Department was called to the James and Sandra Bly residence at 15613 250th Avenue shortly after 8:30 p.m.
Fire Chief Wally Jorgenson says the structure was pretty much engulfed when firefighters arrived at the scene. He says they had to battle a strong south wind to bring the fire under control. Jorgenson says the wind was blowing the fire through the house. He says they were finally able to get an upperhand on the blaze slightly more than an hour after being called to the scene.
Jorgenson says while there are a few items in the house that will be salvageable, the structure itself is pretty much a total loss.
No injuries were reported…the Blys weren’t home when the blaze broke out.
Jorgenson says an investigation by David Schipper of the State Fire Marshall’s Office determined the fire was caused by spontaneous combustion. Jorgenson says the Blys had been refinishing some antique furniture and put rags that had been used for staining in a plastic bag under a deck. He says the rags combusted in the bag and the blaze quickly spread to the deck and house.
The Spirit Lake Fire Department was assisted by the Arnolds Park-Okoboji Fire Department which helped haul water to the scene.
