MASON CITY – Elderly residents were evacuated from a Mason City apartment building as smoke wafted to upper floors of the structure, but a sprinkler appears to have saved the day, along with emergency responders.
According to Fire Marshal Jamey Medlin, on January 28, 2026, at 7:53 p.m. the Mason City Fire Department responded to Shalom Tower II at 321 4th St NE for a fire alarm. While en route, dispatch advised the fire was in the trash chute.
Upon arrival, firefighters and medics entered the building and found a light haze on the 6th and 7th floors of the building and started evacuating residents to the main floor lobby. Additional firefighters made entry into the storage room on 1st floor and found a trash dumpster that was smoldering. A single fire sprinkler had activated and extinguished the fire.
The 6th and 7th floor corridors were ventilated to remove the smoke haze and residents returned to their apartments. The fire alarm gave occupants early notification of the
emergency and the fire sprinkler system extinguished the fire.
The fire was accidental and was caused by discarded smoking material.
The Mason City Police Department and Shalom Tower Maintenance Staff assisted at the scene. Eleven additional off duty firefighter/medics were called in to assist with the
fire call and cover additional emergency calls. The fire department’s units were back in service at 9:33 PM.