Fires

Blaze destroys Crescent Electric building (03/09/10)
Spencer volunteer firefighters were on the scene of a fire Saturday for 10 hours, but were unable to save the Crescent Electric building at 419 E. First St. The building and its contents are considered a total loss, with damages that could exceed $2 million...

Gas line rupture cause of General Traffic Control fire Saturday (02/18/10)
A joint investigation between the Spencer Fire-Rescue Department and the Iowa State Fire Marshals office has ruled the Saturday fire at General Traffic Control in south Spencer as accidental. No intentional sources for the fire were determined, instead the investigators discovered the fire was located in a furnace room in the south office area of the the building. ...

Firefighters battle blaze in midst of winter storm (02/16/10)
Snow began falling early and really picked up in the evening Saturday as firefighters from the Spencer and Royal volunteer fire departments battled a commercial fire at General Traffic Controls, south of Spencer along Highway 71 -- spending approximately six hours on site and using 15,000 gallons of water to get the blaze under control...

Heilstedt pleads guilty to 2008 arson charge (01/21/10)
On Tuesday, during a scheduled hearing, Brenda Lee Heilstedt of Spencer, withdrew her not guilty plea with regards to arson charges stemming from a fire that broke out at a home she owned on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008; and pled guilty to arson in the second degree, a Class C felony...

SMU, fire departments suggest digging out (12/31/09)
Due to large amounts of snow received in the Spencer area over the holiday weekend, Spencer Municipal Utilities would like to remind customers to dig out their electric and water meters. Likewise, Dave Schipper with the state fire marshal's and the Spencer Fire Department reminded residents who have fire hydrants near their property to try and make them accessible as well -- a measure that will save crucial time in case of a fire on the block...

Wahpeton home a total loss after weekend fire (12/15/09)
A home on West Lake has been deemed a complete loss following a fire on Sunday evening. Milford firefighters were called to 1000 West Street in Wahpeton shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 13 for a report of smoke in the residence and a possible chimney fire...

Crash near Dickens injures four (11/24/09)
Four young adults have been treated and released after a single-car crash early Tuesday morning in northeast Clay County. At about 1:30 a.m., the Clay County Sheriff's Office received a report of a single vehicle accident involving injuries in the 3400 mile of 315th Avenue in eastern Clay County, which is about three miles east as a mile north of Dickens...

Plea agreement reached in Spencer arson case (11/06/09)
Judge Patrick Carr has scheduled a Jan. 19 hearing to consider a guilty plea from a Spencer woman accused of arson 11 months ago. Brenda Lee Heilstedt is expected to plead guilty to a charge of second-degree arson, a Class C felony, as part of the agreement struck by attorneys...

Planning a rally? Better check the fire codes (09/11/09)
The commotion of Barack Obama's presidential campaign and the heat generated by the summer's health care town forums has raised some concerns with Spencer Fire Chief Doug Duncan. He brought up the issue of assembly capacities in public buildings at a recent city staff meeting, saying: "We're going to calculate what the occupancy load factor is, which is the number of people, and that's the way it is going to be."...

Head-on collision injures three (09/05/09)
All three occupants were flown from Spencer by emergency helicopter following a head-on collision Friday morning along U.S. Highway 71. Emergency crews were called out at about 11:15 a.m. to the location. Upon arrival, deputies determined a 2003 Jeep, driven by 32-year-old Jacqueline Larson of Milford, was southbound and crossed the center line...

Arson cases: One delayed, one resolved (05/07/09)
A Pocahontas man who started a fire in the mental heath wing of Spencer Hospital avoided prison time as part of a plea agreement finalized Tuesday at the Clay County Courthouse in Spencer. Jared Lee Reinholdt entered a plea of guilty to third-degree arson and Judge Nancy Whittenburg suspended a two-year sentence as part of an agreement reached with prosecutors...

Hog confinements damaged in Monday afternoon fire (05/06/09)
Insurance adjusters were on the scene Tuesday evening, still trying to assess the loss after an extensive hog confinement fire 24 hours earlier. Five fire departments responded Monday afternoon when a set of occupied hog confinements caught fire south of the junction of A34 and M27, about 10 miles west of Milford. An insurance company agent will have to review the producer's inventory for an official count, but more than 1,000 sows and piglets were lost...

Fire causes $25,000 in damage to Mige's in Milford (04/24/09)
Fire has struck another Lake area business as flames continue to break out in area structures and grasslands. On Wednesday evening, Milford firefighters battled a blaze at Mige's Restaurant, formerly Dan'z Restaurant, in south Milford. Damage is estimated at over $25,000...

Where there's smoke... (04/18/09)
A controlled blaze over many field acres in northern Spencer, on property west of the Kardell Leasing Company and Pixler Electric buildings, provided a great deal of smoke along the city's horizon, visible from all over town.

Fire caution urged Wednesday (04/15/09)

Easter morning fire engulfs farmhouse (04/14/09)
Fire crews from three area departments were called out to an Easter morning fire just south of Langdon. They arrived too late to spare Ray Allen's farmhouse -- the 35 firefighters from Fostoria, Dickens and Spencer contained the blaze and avoided additional damage to buildings and machines on the property. The Allen farm is near the graveled "T" intersection of 255th Avenue and 310th Street in Clay County...

Arson suspect uses water to cause new damage (04/07/09)
The Pocahontas man accused of intentionally starting a fire at Spencer Hospital faces new charges after deputies say he caused damage at the Clay County Jail. Jared Lee Reinholdt, 31, was placed in solitary confinement following an incident at about 6:20 a.m. Monday. Jailers believe he plugged the shower and stools and turned on faucets to intentionally cause flooding between jail checks...

Patient charged with setting hospital fire (03/31/09)
The Pocahontas man accused of starting a fire at Spencer Hospital March 19 will face a charge of first-degree arson. Jared Lee Reinholdt has been given an April 3 preliminary hearing date in Clay County District Court, but a trial information document typically cancels the need for an appearance...

TNA, Shayla Bee to be highlighted during Saturday night 'showdown' (03/27/09)
Team 3D, tag team challengers competing in the TNA Wrestling company, put a competitor through a burning table during a televised match. Saturday night, with or without the fire, the brothers will look to do the same thing to Beer Money Inc., the current TNA tag team champions. ...

Heavy fog leads to accident (03/06/09)
A morning accident sent a 34-year-old Spencer man and a four-year-old child to the Spencer Hospital and then onto a larger regional hospital with undisclosed injuries. At approximately 7:30 a.m. Thursday emergency responders from Everly Fire and Rescue, the Clay County Sheriff's Office and Spencer Hospital were called to the scene of a single car accident at the T-intersection of 150th Avenue and 350th Street (County Road B-24)...

Cutty's maintenance building destroyed by electrical fire (01/22/09)
A Monday afternoon fire has destroyed another structure in Dickinson County. Spirit Lake Fire Chief Dave Kollasch said Spirit Lake firefighters got the call at about 1 p.m. Jan. 19 to respond to a fire at the maintenance building at Cutty's. The building is located on the northwest end of the property...

Arson ruled as cause of Spencer fire (12/30/08)
A Spencer woman faces first-degree arson charges after allegedly starting a fire at the house where her daughter lived. Brenda Heilstedt was booked into the Clay County Jail on a Class B felony after a fire broke out at 12:03 p.m. Sunday at 209 West Park Street in Spencer. When firefighters arrived, smoke and flames were venting out of the first floor east windows and the south front window...

Lake Park fire engulfs three downtown buildings (12/30/08)
A fire in downtown Lake Park flattened three buildings on Sunday morning, bringing in 11 fire departments to help extinguish the blaze. Lake Park Fire Chief Brandon Ehret says the Lake Park Fire Department was called to the Hemphill Family Care building at approximately 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28. for a reported building on fire. Hemphill Family Care is located at 204 Market Street in downtown Lake Park...

Fire guts Arnolds Park home (12/17/08)
The Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire and Rescue was dispatched to 584 Dam Rd. at approximately 11:24 p.m. Saturday night for a possible electrical fire. Once the police department arrived at the location they reported a fully engulfed house fire. Upon arrival, the fire department encountered a large volume of fire exiting from a chimney chase on the west side of the house. ...

Olson charged in 'Mama Moose' fire (12/09/08)
Thirty-three-year-old Alicia M. Olson, of Wallingford, was arrested by Palo Alto County Sheriff's on a valid warrant, Saturday, Dec. 6, at 10:15 a.m., following an investigation into a fire that caused extensive damage to the "Mama Moose" restaurant in Ruthven on Christmas Eve in 2005...

Authorities conclude fatal fire investigation (11/25/08)
Investigators have confirmed smoke inhalation as the cause of death after a Spencer man was found in a house fire in the overnight hours leading into Friday. The Spencer Fire Department was dispatched to a fire at 513 West Fifth Street. Upon arrival firefighters encountered heavy smoke and fire, which could be seen coming from the front of the building...

Space heater suspected in fire death investigation (11/22/08)
Fire chief Doug Duncan has renewed a warning about residents who supplement their homes with space heaters after a Spencer man's body was found inside a house fire early Friday. At 12:11 a.m. firefighters were called to the Wayne Weier Sr. residence at 513 West Fifth Street. Some fire and heavy smoke could be seen from the front of the building when firefighters arrived...

Trailer fire intentionally set: Criminal charges pending investigation (11/14/08)
Fire and law enforcement officials continue to investigate the cause of a trailer fire, which they believe was intentionally set at 310 Second St. in Dickens. Emergency crews were called out at around 3:30 p.m. Thursday. The fire destroyed a lead-in porch to the trailer...

Prairie Fire Children's Theatre, LCT present "The Wizard of Oz" (09/25/08)
Join our Dickinson county children in a wonderful journey through the Magical Land of Oz, as they take the stage this weekend along with two professional actor/directors, Ben Ratkowski and ErinRose Sincevich, in Prairie Fire Children's Theatre's original musical production of "The Wizard of Oz"...

Fire chars insulation at RR Donnelley (09/18/08)
Employees had to be evacuated and firefighters were at the scene for more than an hour after a fire broke out at the RR Donnelley printing facility in Spencer. The Spencer Fire Department was called out just after 5 p.m. Wednesday to the plant near East Seventh Street and Third Avenue East in Spencer...

Faulty light fixture causes smoky scene (09/17/08)
Staff members at a regional housing agency arrived to find a smoky start to the day in south Spencer. But the damage should be minimal and clean up was already under way Tuesday at the Northwest Iowa Regional Housing Authority offices. Firefighters were called at 7:53 a.m. ...

Sparks may have caused fire (09/13/08)
The Clay County Sheriffs Office and the Iowa State Fire Marshals Office have concluded a fire investigation and listed the official cause of a structure fire north of Spencer as undetermined. Dickens and Fostoria firefighters were called out at about 1 a.m. Thursday to a fully-engulfed building at the Bill and Lisa Elliott farm, located at 3115 240th Avenue in rural Spencer...

Spencer council to discuss use of city's railroad spur (09/13/08)
By Randy M. Cauthron Managing Editor When the Spencer City Council comes together for its first meeting of September, at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 15 at city hall, a full agenda will greet it. The city staff has been working with an existing company to explore the possibility of utilizing the city's railroad spur that would allow it to expand its services. One of the challenges to accommodate it request allowing them to utilize the spur could potentially reclassify the spur as a short line...

Fire claims rural Spencer farm buildings (09/12/08)
Fingers of fire still emerged from piles of charred hay and debris more than 12 hours after a fire was called in at a farm north of Spencer. The hay will continue to smolder for a day or two, according to Fostoria Fire Chief Tim Kelsch. Letting fire under piles of hay burn itself out is easier than trying to spread the material out to extinguish the buried heat sources...

Spike in fire deaths alarms state officials (08/22/08)
State Fire Marshal Jim Kenkel is concerned.

Ambassadors tour new Audio/Video Connection (08/06/08)
The Spencer Ambassadors visited the new location of Audio Video Connection, and met with owner Randy Swanson. Swanson, who ran the business for 11 years at his South Grand Avenue location, moved to the downtown district, operating now out of the former Northwest Aging building, directly south of the Spencer Fire Department. ...

Briefs 8-06-08 (08/06/08)
Losing a loved one is indescribable to someone who has not felt the loss of death. Hospice of Northwest Iowa's professional team understands the tragedy of losing a loved one and they identify with the difficult decisions and emotions that the person left behind faces. To help people cope with the death of a loved one, Hospice of Northwest Iowa is offering an 8-week Understanding Grief Support Group. The group will meet each Wednesday evening through Sept. 24 from 6:30-8 p.m...

Clay Mutual supports Royal fire truck purchase (07/29/08)
Jeff VanWesten with Clay Mutual Insurance Association presented Jarod Olson, fire fighter for the Royal Fire Department, a check towards the purchase of a new fire truck.

Briefs 7-19-08 (07/21/08)
Young people and their families are invited to "Bee" at the library on Tuesday, July 22 at 6:30 p.m. for the "Pockets Full of Fun" program. Join Lisa Laird of Orange City, and her friends from "Pockets Full of Fun" as they learn about some interesting creatures in the insect world. ...

Fire claims Spencer couple's home (07/19/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff The Iowa Great Lakes Chapter of the American Red Cross has been contacted to help a Spencer couple who lost their home in a trailer fire Friday afternoon. An officer with the Spencer Police Department spotted smoke and called for assistance at 2:41 p.m. Friday. The officer saw flames as he approached the trailer on lot 4 of the trailer park at 317 West 18th Street...

Briefs 7-18-08 (07/18/08)
The Fifth Annual Cruise In will be held from 6-9 p.m. tonight in the McDonald's parking lot at the Southpark Mall in Spencer. Plaques for the first 75 cars. Registration from 6-7:30 p.m., with awards given at 8:30 p.m. Trophies for the top three "peoples choice." Prizes also. Rain day has been set for Friday, July 25...

Arson fire injures Primghar man (07/18/08)
Authorities say a resident of a group home for adults near Primghar was burned in an arson fire. The Primghar Fire Department was called out at 12:23 a.m. Wednesday to the Pride Group Home, which is at 6059 390th Street and east of Primghar. The fire began in the center part of a storage building. It is believed a liquid accelerant was used to start the fire...

Trustees learn about fire facility (07/16/08)
The Board of Trustees of Iowa Lakes Community College held their monthly meeting Tuesday in Emmetsburg and learned about the recently completed Regional Emergency Response Training Center. Steve Dobbins, Fire, EMS and Health programmer, thanked the advisory committee on this project by offering their insight into the needs of area emergency services personnel...

Fire destroys Tweeter's Bar and Grill (06/24/08)
An early morning fire gutted a popular Lakes area restaurant yesterday. Tweeter's Bar and Grill, located just north of the Highway 9 bridge in Okoboji, was declared a total loss. "It looks like it was an electrical malfunction in the dining area of the bar, probably from an electrical circuit that fed three TVs in a trophy case," said Deputy State Fire Marshal David Schipper of the Iowa State Fire Marshals Office. "It's probably going to be a total loss."...

Fire creates smoky scene near Fostoria (06/20/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff The Heikens family is due for a little luck -- the good kind. First came the tornado outbreak of June 2004, which took out a barn on the farm. Another storm, two years later, took down half of their garage. And there's the December burglars who broke into the house a couple of years ago...

City Info 6-5-08 (06/05/08)
The City of Spencer has numerous boards and commissions that serve the citizens of Spencer. The mayor would like to keep on file a list of persons who would be interested in serving on a city board or commission. From time to time positions become vacant and are filled by appointment of the mayor, with council approval...

City Info 5-17-08 (05/19/08)
The city has gone to regular pick up on tagged bags of grass and brush on the following days: Thursday -- west side of Spencer, and Friday -- east side of Spencer. --- Open burning within the corporate limits of Spencer is not allowed by ordinance. To dispose of leaves, grass clippings, other lawn waste or any household waste by burning is illegal. You may be subject to a fine...

City Info 5-8-08 (05/08/08)
The city has gone to regular pick up on tagged bags of grass and brush on the following days: Thursday -- west side of Spencer, and Friday -- east side of Spencer. Open burning within the corporate limits of Spencer is not allowed by ordinance. To dispose of leaves, grass clippings, other lawn waste or any household waste by burning is illegal. You may be subject to a fine...

Divers help in weapons search (04/22/08)
Members of the Clay County Sheriff's Office received some specialized help with a year-old rural residential burglary investigation. The Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire Department Dive Team was called at about 8:45 a.m. Sunday to Stolley's Gravel Pit in west Spencer. Lt. Jason Kirschbaum of the dive team said the exercise doubled as a training opportunity for the volunteers who form the unit...

Attic fire displaces family (04/02/08)
The Mark Lykke family has been displaced following a fire Monday at their home in the 800 block of Fourth Street Southwest in Spencer. Members of the Spencer Fire Department were called at 3:36 p.m. to 824 Fourth Street Southwest. Heavy smoke was coming from the roof as firefighters arrived...

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