Photo via Garner fire department
GARNER – A Grain Handling Equipment retail store in Garner burned Friday afternoon and suffered major losses.
The Garner Fire Department and other area firefighters responded to 75 State Street, home of North Iowa Grain Equipment, in Garner, Iowa, Friday for a fire. US Highway 18 EB/WB was blocked because of the building fire from US 69 to County Road R70, the Iowa Department of Transportation says.
The building suffered major damage and no injuries were reported as a result of the blaze. The fire appeared to originate in the rear of the building and may have been electrical in nature.
Jeff Schroeder, a co-owner of the business, said via social media, “HEY ALL MY GARNER PEEPS!!!! I would like to hear and see some of the damage my whole life up to 10 yrs ago was based on. NORTH IOWA GRAIN IS GONE!!!!!”
The Garner Fire Department was thankful the fire was not worse, and offered, “special thanks to our neighboring depts today at the North Iowa Grain Fire. Thanks to Forest City Fire, Britt Fire, Ventura Fire, Garner Ambulance, Garner PD, Hancock County Sherriff, Alliant Energy and others that helped. It went as well as we could of hoped for. Thank you all for your support. We are so grateful for good neighbors. Thank you for having our backs.”
Area residents also thanked the firefighters for handling the fire.