(Milford)– Careless smoking has been identified as the probable cause of a fire early Sunday that heavily damaged a Milford apartment building.
A news release issed by David Schipper of the State Fire Marshal’s Office says the blaze originated in a lower-level apartment. It says smoking material ignited a couch in that unit with the fire quickly spreading to apartments above.
Milford firefighters were called to the scene at 1411 Ninth Street in Milford shortly after 3:00 a.m. Sunday. Upon arriving they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the rear windows of the building.
Five of the six units were rented at the time. All of the occupants made it out. One was taken to Spencer Hospital and was transferred to a Sioux Falls hospital with burns and smoke inhalation.
The building sustained extensive fire, smoke, heat and water damage and may be a total loss. It’s owned by Keith and Mary Dannatt of Milford. Some of the tennants had rental insurance…others did not.
The Milford Fire Department was assisted by the Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire Department, Milford Police Department, Dickinson County Ambulance, American Red Cross and the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office.
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