Multiple fire departments respond to Royal kennel blaze

Shortly before 11 a.m., Saturday, the Royal Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire at Creeks Bend Kennel.

Upon arrival firefighters found the kennel building with flames coming from the northeast corner of the building. The fire had spread into a barn that was located two-feet north of the kennel building.

Soon after, the Spencer and Everly fire departments also responded to the scene, aided by the Clay County Sheriff's Office.

Firefighters mounted a defensive attack on the fire and slowed the fire down and then entered both the kennel and the barn and brought the fire under control. The kennel suffered severe damage from heat, smoke and water. The barn suffered some fire damage and heavy smoke. Three puppies perished in the kennel building while all other dogs were saved. The three puppies belonged to Tim Small who is the owner of the building.

Firefighters were on scene, at 2120 390th St., in Royal, for over three hours extinguishing the fire and putting out hot spots.

An investigation into the origin and cause of the fire was conducted by the Royal Fire Department and the Iowa State Fire Marshals Office. The area of origin for this fire was determined to be located in the northeast corner of the kennel building. The cause for this fire was ruled accidental. The most probable cause for this fire was a malfunction with a heat lamp that was located in the northeast corner of the kennel on the three puppies that perished in the fire. It was determined that the fire spread up the north wall of the kennel building and across the ceiling in the kennel and out a window into the barn located to the north of the kennel building.