October 2026

A building in downtown Humboldt was destroyed by fire in a blaze that occurred on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 12:30 p.m. at 18 8th Street South. Multiple agencies responded to the fire.

Humboldt Police Department blocked off roads leading to the scene to allow crews the space to work and keep bystanders safe as they worked to extinguish the flames. There were reports of power outages along Sumner Avenue, and power was restored around 2 p.m.

There were no reported injuries and the cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time. No one was in the building when the fire started. It was called in at 12:25 p.m. The building, owned by Hoag's Plumbing and Heating, was completely engulfed in flames when Humboldt firefighters arrived on the scene. The building is located one-half of a block southeast of the main company building at the corner of Sumner Avenue and 8th Street South.

The Humboldt girls' cross country team finished runner-up to Clear Lake in the North Central Conference meet held on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at Maynes Grove north of Iowa Falls.

Clear Lake was the team champion with 45 points. Humboldt had 68 and Forest City was third with 73 and Garner-Hayfield/Ventura fourth with 142.

Humboldt's Aubry Fisher was second overall in 19:45. Jade Malo was third in 19:45 and Avery Fisher fourth in 19:46. Meghan Korbel of Charles City was 1st in 19:12.

Humboldt's boys placed ninth in the team scoring. Clear Lake was the team champion with 43. Forest City was runner-up at 62.

Henry Kramer finished 17th overall in 18:15 to pace the Wildcats. Isaac Fowler was 57th in 20:48 and Bentley Rodgers was 60th in 21:01.

Next action in the state qualifying meet in Clear Lake on Oct. 21 at 4 p.m. The top 3 teams and the top 15 individuals advance to the state meet in Fort Dodge on Oct. 31.

The Humboldt High School cross country team has been assigned to a state qualifying meet in Clear Lake on Oct. 21.

The girls' race will start at 4 p.m., followed by the boys' race at 4:30. Veterans Memorial Golf Course will be the site for the race.

Each school is permitted a maximum of seven entrants. All competitors will be counted as they finish the race. In order to qualify for state as a team, five runners must finish. The first three teams, plus the first 15 individual place winners will qualify for the state meet.

The Class 3A state championships will take place on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Lakeside Golf Course north of Fort Dodge.

Other schools in the meet in Clear Lake include: Algona, Charles City, Decorah, Des Moines Christian, Hampton-Dumont-CAL, Iowa Falls-Alden, Mason City, Nevada, Spencer, Storm Lake, Webster City and host Clear Lake.