Oelwein House Fire

Release: Sunday Afternoon House Fire

At approximately 12:49 p.m. on July 27, 2025, Oelwein Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to a report of a house fire in the 300 blk 7th Ave SW. The caller reported the house was fully engulfed in flames at that time. The Oelwein Fire Department arrived on scene at 12:57 p.m. to observe the attached garage almost completely destroyed by fire and that the fire had spread to the interior of the residence.

Fire crews were on scene for nearly two hours. A family cat was rescued from inside the residence. The fire was determined

to be from a riding lawn mower that had been used and put away shortly before the fire was discovered.

"Once again our volunteer members and our great neighbors to the south and southwest worked tirelessly together to

prevent further loss to the neighborhood." stated Public Safety Chief Jeremy Logan. “Battling a house fire is never easy—but doing it in relentless heat and humidity takes extraordinary grit. Our volunteer firefighters stepped up without hesitation, pushing through brutal conditions to protect lives and property. Their selflessness and toughness remind us why they are the heart of this community.”

The Oelwein Police and Fire Departments were assisted by the fire departments from Hazleton and Fairbank, as well as the Iowa State Patrol, Fayette County Emergency Management, and Oelwein MercyOne Ambulance.