ADEL, Iowa — Fire destroyed the east end of the Raccoon River Valley Trail bridge over the Raccoon River on the town’s east side early Monday.
The Adel Volunteer Fire Department was given mutual aid from departments in Dallas Center, De Soto, Minburn, Redfield, Van Meter and Waukee in order to fight blaze reported about 2 a.m. at 408 River St.
Firefighters were challenged in reaching the east side of the bridge with their equipment, which led to a call to nearby agencies for grass trucks and UTVs.
The Dallas County Secondary Roads Department ceased to maintain the western end of 288th Trail many years ago, so that access point was ruled out.
“It will be very, very difficult to put out this fire,” the incident commander said, according to public safety radio traffic.
The fire is believed to have begun when a controlled burn from some hours earlier in the timber east of the bridge got out of control, according to public safety radio traffic.
ThePerryNews.com will update this story as information becomes available.
