(Rembrandt)– A fire at a motel at the junction of Highways 3 and 71 north of Storm Lake Tuesday resulted in thousands of dollars of damage.
The Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office says a passerby reported the fire at the Cross Roads Motel shortly after 10:30 a.m. The Rembrandt Fire Department was dispatched, along with departments from Storm Lake and Sioux Rapids. Upon arriving, the motel was found to be fully engulfed in flames. All residents had been safely evacuated. Heavy smoke resulted in Highway 3 being shut down for a time.
A preliminary investigation indicated the fire was started by a malfunction in a large sign that was mounted on the building.
Firefighters were successful in stopping the fire before it could destroy the entire building.
Damage estimates were put at about $200,000.
An investigation into the fire continues.
Firefighters were assisted by the Iowa State Patrol and the Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Reserves.
(Story from sister station KAYL in Storm Lake).
