Tim Thyer has seen plenty of house fires in his day, but never had he seen one quite like the one he arrived at Wednesday.
Iola firefighters were called to Gary Wells’ home, 321 S. Second St., Wednesday afternoon after a fire burned through a wall.
Thyer, Iola fire chief, said the fire apparently started near a hot water tank.
There was no electric wiring, loose clothing or other debris near the tank.
“There was maybe an inch between the water heater and the wall,” Thyer said. “Maybe there was some dust or cobwebs that ignited.
“I’ll let the insurance investigators look at it to see what they think the cause is,” he concluded. “I’ve never seen one like this.”
The fire burned through an exterior wall before a passing neighbor spotted smoke coming from the house.
The fire was contained to the small wall section, although extensive smoke damage was evident throughout the house, Thyer said.
“The Police Department already had the fire pretty much knocked down by the time we got there,” Thyer said. “It didn’t take long to put it out.”
The heat from the fire was enough to make the tank’s metal surface buckle, Thyer said. Laminate flooring below also started to pucker.
Wells, retired employee from Iola’s Gas, Water and Wastewater Department, was not home at the time of the fire.
There were no injuries.
Fire starts at hot water tank
