Fire destroys rural Postville residence last Thursday

Thursday morning, March 30 at 12:18 a.m. the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a house fire at 30083 Harding Road in rural Postville.

While the Postville Fire Department was responding to the scene, firefighters could see flames shooting from the roof as they headed west of town. The first responding units knew they would be hampered by gusty winds and rain, so mutual aid was requested from the Castalia, Clermont and Elgin fire departments.

Upon arrival at the scene, fire had breached the attic of the one-story home owned by Josh and Heather Bissell. Bissell stated that he was awakened by the smoke alarms going off, which were just replaced earlier this year.

After waking, he call 9-1-1 and attempted to help suppress the fire by using a garden hose. Though a person might think that rain would help out during a fire, it made things more difficult to set up fire suppression tactics. A portable drop tank was set up to begin water shuttle operations as both the Postville and Castalia vehicles got buried in the yard and were unable to move. Attack lines had to be used from their stationery positions. Water tankers then had to back up the driveway one at a time in order dump their water loads. The tankers were not always capable of dumping a full load of water as the tankers were on an incline and facing downhill.

The Postville fire department remained on the scene for approximately three hours and were later called back around 8 a.m. for some rekindling in the southwest corner of the house.

Jerry Bissell, Assistant Fire Chief and Josh’s father, was the incident commander upon arrival at the scene. Chief Bohr arrived an hour later.

Due to the roof being completely burned away and extensive water damage, the house is being considered a total loss at this time. Damages are estimated at approximately $160,000. The cause  of the fire is being targeted  toward a wood burning stove and the overheating of the flume/vent piping which caused insulation and/or wood framing to ignite. One firefighter sustained minor injuries while jumping out a window to escape  as the roof began to collapse.

The Postville Fire Department  was assisted by the Castalia, Clermont and Elgin Fire Department, Postville Area Ambulance Service, Postville Police Department, the Allamakee, Clayton, and Fayette County Sheriff’s Offices and Reggie’s Towing.

A fund has been set up for Josh and Heather Bissell at Fidelity Bank & Trust in Postville.