Fire Destroys Glenwood Airbnb


Remains of the structure fire at 309 No. Chestnut St. in Glenwood. The house to the south of the Airbnb also sustained substantial damage.

A  multi-story house at 309 No. Chestnut St. in Glenwood was gutted by a massive fire early Sunday morning. A neighboring home at 307 No. Chestnut also sustained substantial damage.

“It was a hot, fast-moving fire,” Glenwood Fire Chief Matt Gray said. “It was probably burning for a long time before anybody found it – probably a couple hours.”

The front portion of the house was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived on scene, according to Gray. 

The century-old structure served as an Airbnb rental property and was occupied when the blaze began. The occupants escaped the fire unharmed.

“There were eight people staying there. They came to town for a wedding – they’re from the Chicago area,” Gray said.

Gray said the fire appeared to have started in the front porch area of the structure.

“We’re investigating it right now. We called in the state fire marshal and of course the insurance company will have their own investigator go through, too,” Gray said. “We’ve got some video footage from across the street but we haven’t determined a cause, yet. We’re still in the investigation phase of it right now. 

“We’re talking to the residents who live near by and also the tenants who were in the Airbnb.”

The house at 307 No. Chestnut sustained substantial damage as well, primarily on the north side of the structure. The occupants of that house were not home when the fire erupted.

“It ended up getting radiant heat from the fire,” Gray said. “The wind was blowing that way and it ended up melting the vinyl siding. It got up into the eave vents and the attic area. Basically, we were running two structure fires at once. It was challenging.”

Gray said fortunately nobody was injured or required medical treatment as a result of the fire.

Glenwood firefighters were assisted at the scene by reinforcements from the Oak Township, Silver City, Malvern and Pacific Junction fire departments.
 

The Opinion-Tribune

116 S Walnut St Glenwood, IA 51534-1665
P.O. Box 377, Red Oak, IA 51566
Phone: 712-527-3191
Phone: 712-623-2566
Fax: 712-527-3193

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