The fire at 945 S. 17th St. was reported at 1:18 p.m.

It produced a large cloud of black smoke that could be seen from about five blocks away.

When firefighters arrived, they found the front of the one-story wood frame house engulfed in flames. Some of the grass in the front yard was also burning.

Three hoselines were used to extinguish the fire.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
Fort Dodge firefighters work at the scene of a Saturday afternoon fire at 945 S. 17th St. The fire was mostly contained to an enclosed front porch, according to Assistant Fire Chief Matt Price.

Assistant Fire Chief Matt Price said the fire was mostly contained to an enclosed front porch. He said there was some extension of fire into the house and the entire house sustained smoke damage.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Fort Dodge police and Webster County sheriff’s deputies assisted firefighters at the scene.

The house is owned by Jacob S. Lehman, according to online records of the Webster County Assessor’s Office. It was built in 1921, according to those records.