One occupant of the building at 1107 Central Ave. was brought down ladders to safety by firefighters in what was described as a “dramatic rescue.”

The building next door at 1109 Central Ave. had to be evacuated also.

That blaze was one of two significant structure fires in Fort Dodge over the weekend. The first was a Saturday morning arson fire that gutted a vacant house at 702 N. 16th St.

Additionally, firefighters responded to a fuel truck on fire at Fort Dodge Regional Airport Sunday morning.

-Photo courtesy of the Fort Dodge Fire Department
Flames erupt from third-story windows at 1107 Central Ave. in Fort Dodge Sunday morning as Fort Dodge firefighters arrive on scene. Six people were injured in the blaze.

Downtown blaze

Fort Dodge firefighters were returning to their firehouse from a reported gas leak at McDonald’s, 2509 Fifth Ave. S., when 911 dispatchers notified them of a structure fire with people trapped at 1107 Central Ave.

The fire was reported at 2:21 a.m.

When firefighters arrived, they found flames shooting out the front windows on the third floor. They also spotted a woman in a third floor window on the building’s west side.

“She was in very serious danger,” Fire Chief Steve Hergenreter said.

-Photo courtesy of the Fort Dodge Fire Department
A firefighter works at the scene of a house fire at 702 N. 16th St. early Saturday morning. The cause of the fire has been determined to be arson, according to the Fort Dodge Fire Department.

He said the woman was surrounded by “a lot of heat and very heavy smoke.”

Because the Fire Department’s aerial ladder truck was not on the scene yet, firefighters used portable ladders carried on the pumper trucks to reach her.

Hergenreter said a 24-foot ladder was placed against the building and a 14-foot ladder was placed on top of it. With the two ladders placed together, firefighters were able to climb up to the third floor and get the woman out.

Hergenreter described the effort as a “dramatic rescue.”

The other occupants of the building got out on their own.

-Photo courtesy of the Fort Dodge Fire Department
Fort Dodge firefighters work at the scene of a house fire at 702 N. 16th St. early Saturday morning. The cause of the fire has been determined to be arson, according to the Fort Dodge Fire Department.

Six people were injured, according to Fire Department reports. Four were taken by ambulance to UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center. One of those four people was later airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City for treatment of burns and smoke inhalation, firefighters reported.

Two other occupants of the building went to UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center in private vehicles.

The building at 1109 Central Ave. was evacuated.

All available off-duty firefighters were called back to work and the Webster City Fire Department responded with one truck and six firefighters.

Hergenreter said the third floor of 1107 Central Ave. was destroyed and there is extensive fire damage to the attic and roof. The first and second floors sustained smoke and water damage.

The building at 1109 Central Ave. sustained smoke damage.

Utilities to both buildings were shut off. The sidewalk in front of those buildings is cordoned off with tape.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The building, constructed in 1895, is owned by Keith Eldridge, of Humboldt, according to online records of the Webster County Assessor’s Office.

Fort Dodge police responded along with firefighters.

Arson on North 16th Street

The fire at 702 N. 16th St. was reported at 3:19 a.m. Saturday.

No one was injured.

Residents of the house next door had to be evacuated because the houses are so close together. Firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to the house next door.

According to Fire Department reports, firefighters found flames throughout the first and second floors of the house when they arrived.

The flames burned a hole through the floor on the second floor and spread to the attic and roof.

The blaze caused major damage to all levels of the house, according to Fire Department reports.

The house was determined to be vacant and had no utilities connected.

The cause of the fire has been determined to be arson, the Fire Department reported.

Several off-duty firefighters were called back to work to help at the scene and to respond to any other emergencies that occurred in the city.

Fort Dodge police responded along with firefighters.

According to online records of the Webster County Assessor’s Office, the house is owned by Anwar Zeeshan, of Fort Dodge. It was built in 1912, according to those records.