(Okoboji)—Fire has damaged another business in Okoboji.
The Arnolds Park-Okoboji Fire Department was called to the Okoboji Expedition Company at 1021 South Highway 71 shortly after 8:30 last (Mon.) evening after a passerby saw smoke coming from the roof of the business, owned by Cenna Vaelli.
Upon arriving firefighters found smoke coming from vents on the roof of the structure, but there was no fire or smoke in the store itself.
After locating the fire in the attic area, firefighters quickly extinguished it.
Arnolds Park-Okoboji Fire Chief Chris Yungbluth says an investigation determined the fire was the result of an electrical malfunction in an electrical junction box in the store’s flourescent lighting.
Yungbluth says the store will be able to recover as damage was limited to the roof and a portion of the ceiling where the fire was located. He says there was some smoke damage to some merchandise, but none of the bikes were damaged. Youngbluth estimates damage in the neighborhood of 35-thousand to 40-thousand dollars.
No injuries were reported.
Yungbluth credits the observant citizen who noticed the smoke, saying if the fire had been allowed to burn much longer it would have been a much sadder story for the business.
The Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire Department was assisted by the Milford Fire Department, Okoboji and Arnolds Park Police Departments, Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office and the Lakes Regional Healthcare ambulance.
Firefighters were on the scene a little more than two and-a-half hours.
