Pella Fire Crews and other first responders fought cold, wind, sleet and snow for hours in an attempt to save a house on fire west of Pella today. Pella Fire, Pella Ambulance, Marion County Emergency Management, and Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies responded. Authorites were called out at to the fire in the 600 block of 198th Ave. at about 1:30p.m. That location is a dead-end road just behind the Liberty Evangelical Free Church. The fire breached the roof, and is likely a total loss. No one was home at the time the fire started. The Pella Fire Department remained on scene putting out hot spots for approximately over five hours. The cause is under investigation.
The Pella Pizza Ranch donated food for the firefighters when they returned to the fire station.
Marion County Sheriff Jason Sandholdt and several deputies were on scene at the fire escorting water trucks back and forth from a hydrant on Washington and Highway 163 to the fire. Sandholdt would like to remind motorists of Iowa law that requires vehicles to yield to emergency vehicles. Fines for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle or an unsafe approach to a stationary vehicle can be up to $195.