MASON CITY – A structure fire this weekend in Mason City was caused by an unattended recreational burn pit, officials say.
On April 20, 2019 at 5:34 PM, the Mason City Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire at 2900 12th Street NE, listed as owner-occupied by Brian and Chereen Stroup. When the Mason City Fire Department arrived, smoke and fire could be seen on the exterior of the building. Mason City Fire Department staff extinguished the fire from the exterior of the building in a defensive operation. 1000 feet of 5-inch supply line was use to connect to a fire hydrant to supply the fire engine with water – flowing approximate 1050 gallons per minute of water. The fire was extinguished quickly.
Building overhaul was performed by fire department personnel and hot spots were extinguished followed by investigation of the fire. Mason City Fire Department was on scene for 3 hours with ten firefighters/medics were on the initial response with a total of fifteen firefighters/medics at the fire scene.
A report from he fire department says the home owner attempted to extinguish the fire prior to fire department arrival with a garden hose, but the fire was too large and hot to extinguish.
The fire was determined accidental and caused by an unattended recreational burn pit. Fire transferred from the burn pit to the building via dry grass.
