Carroll Broadcasting Assistant News Director, Nathan Konz, is in Exira, where a 2:30 a.m. fire at Jerry’s Joint Bar has spread west, damaging nearly half the block. There are now more than 20 fire departments and over 70 firefighters at the scene. Exira Fireman’s wife Sandi Hocamp says her husband’s pager went off at about 2:30 a.m., and he was still on site at 11:45 a.m. She says she would not be surprised if these firemen would need to work in shifts to remain at the site in downtown Exira for the next couple of days.
She says there has already been a strong showing of support from the community and surrounding areas.
The wives put out a request on the department’s Facebook page as they were short on supplies in town. She says they have been blessed to have so many people come together to get them water, Gatorade and food. It is heartbreaking to see nearly a quarter of their downtown destroyed in this fire, but Hocamp says they will stick together.
Buildings that have been heavily damaged or destroyed include Jerry’s Joint Bar, an apartment building, Gabby & Crabby and Jon Bauer Psychiatry. No injuries have been reported, but there have been some concerns about heat exhaustion for the firefighters. We will bring you more updates on the fire as they become available.
