Basement Fire, Burning Gas Meter Force Mason City Residents From Home Early Thursday

MASON CITY, Iowa — An early morning basement fire and burning natural gas meter forced residents to evacuate a home on Woodbine Road Thursday.

According to the Mason City Fire Department, crews were called to the zero block of Woodbine Road at 3:19 a.m. after a report of smoke inside the home.

When firefighters arrived, they found a fire burning in the basement along with flames coming from the home’s exterior natural gas meter.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the basement fire and used hose lines to keep nearby areas from catching fire until Alliant Energy crews arrived to shut off the gas supply.

Officials say smoke alarms alerted the occupants, allowing everyone inside to safely escape before emergency crews arrived. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Mason City Police Department and Alliant Energy assisted at the scene.