The fire at 1524 Fourth Ave. N., reported at about 3:30 p.m., sent a large cloud of black smoke over the Duncombe Elementary School neighborhood as classes were ending for the day.

When firefighters arrived, the garage, the backyard, a tire in the yard and part of a tree were burning, while a large volume of flame was coming out of the back of the two-story house.

The fire spread throughout the house and flames were coming out of the peak of the roof.

The property next door on the west side of the home also sustained some damage. A fence was destroyed, a small section of the garage was burned and paint was blistered on the house. Also, a window cracked and a window blind melted.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
Fort Dodge Fire Chief Matt Price moves a hoseline during a fire Wednesday afternoon at 1524 Fourth Ave. N.

Fire Chief Matt Price said a man was home at 1524 Fourth Ave. N. but did not know there was a fire. Price said the man was alerted by someone who knocked on the door and told him to get out. He added that the fire was reported by a bystander.

Three hoselines were used to extinguish the blaze. Price said the burning garage collapsed when the first stream of water hit it.

The fire started outside the house at 1524 Fourth Ave. N. and spread to it, according to Price. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

He said there is extensive damage throughout the house.

Fourth Avenue North between 15th and 16th streets was closed while firefighters worked at the scene.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
A Fort Dodge firefighter directs a stream of water into the upper levels of a house at 1524 Fourth Ave. N. Wednesday afternoon. The home sustained major damage in the fire.

Firefighters returned to the scene at about 7 p.m. when a smoldering branch from the burned tree fell onto a neighboring property.

The house is owned by Devda Dharmpalsinh, according to online records of the Webster County Assessor’s Office. It was built in 1901.