Fire destroys Humboldt home Saturday afternoon
Flames shoot out of the front entrance to the Bret and Deb Davis home on West River Drive Saturday, March 7. The fire broke about 1:30 p.m. and firefighters were still on the scene late Saturday afternoon. Humboldt Independent photo by Kent Thompson.
Humboldt Assistant Fire Chief Kim Jensen attacks the interior of the home of Bret and Deb Davis on West River Drive Saturday afternoon. Strong winds hampered attempts by the Humboldt Fire Department to bring the fire under control in a rapid manner. See this and other photos at www.humboldtnews.com. Humboldt Independent photo by Kent Thompson.
A Humboldt firefighter walks past the west side of the Bret and Deb Davis home 2202 West River Drive Saturday afternoon, March 7. Fire broke out about 1:30 p.m. Saturday and consumed the home. Humboldt Independent photo by Kent Thompson.
By KENT THOMPSON
The calm of a spring-like late winter afternoon was shattered Saturday when thick black and gray smoke billowed out of a home at 2202 West River Drive in Humboldt, the home of Bret and Deb Davis.
The Davises were entertaining guests in the living room about 1:30 p.m. Saturday when they saw smoke coming through the (floor) registers. “We had an aunt and a cousin here visiting,” Deb Davis said.
Bret said he immediately ran down the basement and noticed that Polyethylene cross-linked tubing had melted. “It appeared to have started in the furnace,” he said. “By the time I got back upstairs you couldn’t see because of the smoke,” Bret said.
The Davises and their guests were able to safely exit the structure with no injuries and were able to move their vehicles out of the garage.
They have an security alarm system alert that notifies the Law Enforcement Center. Deb Davis made the 911 call at 1:31 p.m.
The Humboldt Fire Department arrived on the scene a short time later to find the structure well on the way to becoming fully engulfed.
“The fire started in the basement. When we arrived there was a lot of smoke from all four sides of the building. You could tell there was a lot of heat inside,” Humboldt Fire Chief Jim Gronbach reported.
“The fire was able to spread before we were able to enter in and started ventilating. The fire burned a hole through the first floor of the house and entered into the attic, which pretty much totally engulfed the home,” Gronbach said.
A strong southerly wind of 20-25 miles an hour hampered firefighters’ efforts Saturday afternoon. “It hampered our attack and made the fire spread a lot quicker,” Gronbach said.
The Humboldt Fire Department was able to attack the blaze and keep it from spreading to neighboring residents on the city’s west side.
“The fire was contained in the structure itself but the first floor is gone and the home and its contents are considered a total loss,” Gronbach said.
He said the thick smoke created from the fire was from the burning of furniture, synthetics and household appliances and items in the home.
“We don’t know the cause of the fire right now and probably won’t till later,” Gronbach said at 4 p.m.
About 16 members of the Humboldt Fire Department responded to the scene and Bode and Gilmore City Fire Departments provided additional water and manpower.
“With the temperature and dragging the hoses we were getting a little tired, so we brought in additional mutual aid to man hoses and drag those around, so we appreciate both Bode and Gilmore City coming to help," the chief said.
No dollar estimate of damage has as yet been determined.
Onlookers are asked to stay clear of the 2000 block of West River Drive as emergency personnel remain on the scene late Saturday afternoon.
Bret and Deb Davis are owners of Sister’s Home Style Entrees in Humboldt. The couple has lived in the ranch-style home featuring an expansive back yard, mature trees and access to the West Fork of the Des Moines River, since 2017.
