Rural home leveled by fire this morning
No one was injured in a fire this morning that destroyed a rural Jasper County home northeast of Prairie City.
Firefighters responded to a call of a fire at 7:26 a.m. today at 6413 S. 60th Ave. W., the home of Glen and Dorothy Foster. Prairie City Fire Department responded and received assistance from Colfax.
According to the Foster’s daughter, Dianna White, the electricity at the home had gone out between 8:30 and 9 p.m. Wednesday night. The couple own a generator, which they had hooked to a propane tank.
This morning, the Fosters were able to escape the blaze with nothing but the clothes on their backs — no personal belongings and nothing could be saved. There wasn’t even enough time to grab Dorothy’s purse.
During the blaze there were explosions, and smoke from the fire could be seen from as far away as Highway 14. A county sheriff’s deputy leaving the scene told a Daily News reporter that the house was a total loss.
“Everything is gone,” White said.
Glen was put on oxygen when the ambulance arrived due to pre-existing need, and White indicated that the family believed the fire started in the garage, possibly, with smoke coming from there first.
