Today, at approximately 8:08 AM, the Ankeny Fire Department was dispatched to a residential structure fire in the 500 block of SW Ash Drive in the Uptown area of Ankeny. The homeowner, who was home at the time of the fire, was alerted by a smoke alarm, smelled smoke, saw fire, and evacuated to a safe place before calling 911.
The Ankeny Fire Department arrived on-scene in under four minutes to find a well-involved fire coming from a rear-bedroom window and dense dark smoke throughout the residence. Crews immediately began a transitional attack, flowing water from the outside to begin extinguishing the fire, before entering the residence to fully extinguish the fire and aggressively search for any occupants or pets. No injuries were reported to the homeowner nor responding personnel, and the fire was brought under control within approximately 10 minutes. Firefighters were able to save two cats.
The Ankeny Fire Department reminds residents of the critical importance of having working smoke alarms, staying low while exiting a fire to avoid heat and smoke, and calling 911 only after safely evacuating to a secure location. In this incident, the smoke alarm that alerted the homeowner was installed by the Ankeny Fire Department as part of a Community Risk Reduction Campaign. In this video, there is a distinct line of heat and smoke, reinforcing why staying low during a fire can be lifesaving.
The Ankeny Fire Department would like to thank these agencies for their assistance: Ankeny Police Department, Johnston-Grimes Metropolitan Fire District, Mid-American Energy, and the Polk County Sherriff’s Office Communications Center. The cause of the fire is under investigation and no other information is available at this time.
The Ankeny Fire Department reminds everyone of these holiday safety tips:
- Water live Christmas trees daily and keep them away from heat sources. A dry tree can ignite quickly.
- Turn off holiday lights before leaving home or going to bed. Inspect cords for damage and avoid overloading outlets.
- Keep cooking areas clear and never leave food unattended while cooking or baking.
- Place space heaters at least 3 feet away from furniture, curtains, and decorations. Turn them off before sleeping.
- Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.
- Plan and practice a home fire escape plan with two ways out of every room and a designated meeting place outside.