MASON CITY — Sparks from an angle grinder ignited an attic fire in a Mason City building Tuesday afternoon, forcing firefighters to break into the secured structure and pull down sections of ceiling to reach the flames.
The Mason City Fire Department responded to 18½ 13th Street NE at approximately 2:49 p.m. October 13 after receiving a report of smoke coming from the roof.
Crews arrived to find light smoke escaping from the building’s roof. Firefighters forced entry, then removed sections of the ceiling to locate and extinguish the fire in the attic, according to a department press release issued October 15.
Damage was limited to the ceiling and small attic space of an addition. Fire officials determined the blaze was accidental and caused by sparks from an angle grinder.
Crews remained at the scene until 4:50 p.m., roughly two hours after the initial call. Mason City police and Alliant Energy assisted.
Eleven additional off-duty firefighters were called in to cover other emergency calls while crews handled the fire.