STANHOPE — Fire set by a homeowner destroyed a rural Stanhope home as firefighters were forced to stand back due to exploding ammunition.

The owner of the home at 2158 360th St., was not identified by Hamilton County Sheriff Alex Pruismann, but he is in jail, Pruismann said Thursday evening.

“He did start the fire,” Pruismann said.

The ammunition caused a safety issue, he said.

The man was armed, he added, but no shots were fired.

“There was a firearm displayed,” Pruismann said. “He did not point a weapon at anyone, including law enforcement or firemen.”

The one-and-a-half-story house burned to the ground.

“The only thing left standing was the chimney,” the sheriff said.

The property is owned by John M. Christensen, according to the Hamilton County Auditor’s online records.

Pruismann said there were no casualties.

Stanhope Fire Department was dispatched to the scene at 2:22 p.m. Stratford Fire Department provided mutual aid. Sheriff’s deputies from Hamilton and Webster counties and Iowa State Patrol troopers also responded.

Though the family was offered American Red Cross assistance, they declined it, instead accepting the offers of “generous people” who stepped in to help find them a place to stay, according to Pruismann. He said Hamilton County Emergency Services would contact the Red Cross today and follow up with the family.

Pruismann said the event is still under investigation.

He expects to release further details today.