Sanborn firefighters joined those from Sheldon and Hospers in battling a house fire Saturday night in Sheldon.
Sheldon Fire Chief Brad Hindt reported that the call came in shortly before 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 13. They were called to 1816 East 9th Street for a possible fire, as smoke was seen coming out of the chimney and windows.
Chief Hindt said firefighters forced entry through the garage door and found heavy smoke and heat in the garage. Firefighters were unsure about the whereabouts of the home’s residents and did a search of the main floor, finding nothing.
Sheldon Fire requested assistance from Sanborn and Hospers firefighters due to the temperature and being short-staffed.
According to Hindt, firefighters then entered the basement, encountering heavy smoke and heat, and located the fire in a bedroom. They quickly extinguished the fire and overhauled the bedroom.
Hindt stated that the cause of the fire appeared to have been electrical in nature.
The Chief said that two family cats and two bunnies perished in the fire. The house received severe damage to the basement while the main floor suffered smoke damage. Hindt indicated that the structure is most likely uninhabitable until repairs can be made.