House considered a total loss in February 1 afternoon blaze ...

The Waukon Fire Department was called to a house fire at 807 First Avenue SW in Waukon, the residence of the Terry Grotegut family, just before 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 1. No one was home at the time of the fire, which was reported by a passer-by, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to a report from the Waukon Area Fire Protection District. No injuries were reported in the fire, but a dog did reportedly perish as a result of the blaze. The house is considered to be a total loss, but a home and fifth-wheel travel trailer (pictured at far right) immediately adjacent to the east and an apartment complex (pictured at far left) immediately adjacent to the west were spared due to the actions of the Waukon Area Fire Protection District volunteers. The initial block of Ninth Street SW (in front of Quillin's Food Ranch) was closed to traffic to prevent vehicles from running over hoses connected to nearby fire hydrants used to battle the blaze. Assisting at the scene of the fire were the Waukon Police Department, Allamakee County Sheriff's Office and Veterans Memorial Hospital Ambulance. Standard photo by Joe Moses.