Easter morning fire engulfs farmhouse

(Photo by Russ Mitchell) Charred remains continue to smolder and tumble into the basement foundation Monday at the Ray Allen farmhouse just south of unincorporated Langdon. The owner was not home when the fire started and the house was fully engulfed when fire crews arrived. [Order this photo]

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.

The call came in just before 8 a.m. on Sunday. Responding crews could see evidence of the building fire from Spencer.

Fostoria Fire Chief Aaron Rutter said the flames were most prevalent on the west side and second floor of the house. The damage, in excess of $100,000, was too extensive to determine the origin of the fire. The heavy damage prevents Deputy State Fire Marshal David Schipper from determining the cause of the fire as well.

"He had started the wood burner in the morning, went to town and came home at about 8 o'clock in the morning from going in for coffee and found it full of smoke," Schipper said. "By the time we got there, with the wind and everything, the roof was already starting to come in and every window was showing fire."

Nobody was injured. Fostoria firefighters stayed at the scene for about four hours. They returned throughout the day Sunday to monitor hot spots.

Iowa Lakes Electric and the Clay County Sheriff's Office also assisted at the scene.