The Pella City and Rural Fire Departments played a pivotal role in battling a large structure fire in Oskaloosa early Monday morning.
Assistant Fire Chief Joel Braafhart tells KNIA/KRLS News that Mahaska County dispatch asked for mutual aid at 4 a.m. Braafhart says they initially sent six firefighters with the aerial truck, which they used to shoot water into the second story and roof of the building. An additional equipment truck was sent with five firefighters later in the morning. Fire crews were able to contain the blaze that badly damaged a hardware and sporting goods store on the southeast side of the downtown Oskaloosa square.