MASON CITY – The Mason City Fire Department and numerous others helped battle a major fire that threatened to spread overnight on the south end of town at Mason City Recycling.
At approximately 8:08 PM on January 17, 2025, the Mason City Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at Mason City Recycling, located at 16615 245th Street.
Upon arrival, fire crews encountered an active fire inside a large building. The fire was initially reported by a passerby, and no individuals were present at the business when the incident occurred.
The fire department say that the absence of nearby fire hydrants required water to be shuttled to the scene. Complicating the firefighting efforts were cold temperatures and strong North/Northwest winds, which caused the fire to spread to outdoor equipment and surrounding grass areas.
Numerous agencies assisted in the response, including the Rockwell, Nora Springs, Clear Lake, and Ventura Fire Departments, the Mason City Police Department, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, Cerro Gordo County Emergency Management, Iowa State Patrol, and Alliant Energy. Additionally, Helena Agri-Enterprises LLC provided valuable support by hauling water using a semi-tanker. Assisting agencies remained on-site until approximately 1:30 AM. Firefighters were able to stop the spread of fire to adjacent buildings.
Local businesses generously provided food and water for responders, including Hy-Vee Food Store, Domino’s Pizza, and Kwik Star.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident.
As of Saturday afternoon, the Mason City Fire Department remains on-site, closely monitoring the situation. Some material inside the building continues to burn, but the structure has been deemed unsafe for entry due to significant weakening.
Firefighters will maintain a presence to ensure the fire does not spread, as strong winds are expected to persist throughout the weekend.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.