MASON CITY – The Mason City Fire Department responded to an alarm for a house fire at 748 15 St. N.E. at 3:35 am on 8/9/2015 called in by a neighbor.
The house was being remodeled and was unoccupied at the time of the fire. Fire was showing from the northeast corner of the roof when the Fire Department arrived on scene. There was heavy fire damage to the attic area and ceiling level of the kitchen with smoke damage throughout the house. Damage was estimated at $10,000, total, to property and contents.
The fire started in the attic area above the kitchen. The cause of the fire was an overloaded electrical circuit, from a window air conditioner, which caused the knob and tube wiring to overheat in the attic and started the cellulous insulation on fire.
Firefighters remained on scene until 6:30 am.
The home is owned but Jeff and Tammie Cowell. At the scene Wednesday, repairs to the home appeared to already be underway.