2015-02-28 10.38.57
Knoxville fire crews fought freezing temperatures and other obstacles as they battled a house fire Saturday morning.

Knoxville Fire and Rescue responded to a residential structure fire call at 10:24am located at 501 Pearl Street.
Crews had to rip off vents and siding to gain access to the fire. Knoxville Fire Chief Jim Mitchell said the fire was on both levels of the home but mainly in the attic. Flames and smoke could be seen pouring out the roof of the home.
Mitchell says the fire was believed to have started in a small storage room at the rear of the home that contained a water heater. One person who was home at the time of the blaze escaped unharmed. She told authorities she heard popping and cracking coming from the room and it was fully involved when she went to investigate. Mitchell said items in the way made it difficult for fire fighters to initially access the room.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Knoxville Township Rural Fire Department, Knoxville Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and Alliant Energy all responded to the call.
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