An early morning blaze at 1306 Second St. in downtown Perry Wednesday caused heavy fire damage to an upper-story apartment and extensive water and smoke damage throughout the building.
Initial reports said someone was trapped in an upper apartment unit, but all occupants had escaped the building by the time the Perry Volunteer Fire Department arrived shortly after 5 a.m.
“The fire was contained to the front apartment,” according to a spokesperson from the PVFD. “Heavy fire damage occurred in that apartment with smoke and water damage throughout.”
A quick response and diligent effort by the Perry firefighters prevented the fire’s spreading to neighboring buildings, Aspen Retirement Services to the north and a Christian gift shop to the south.
Three residents of the apartments were displaced by the fire, the cause of which is under investigation, the department spokesperson said.
The building, dating from 1906, is owned by Viivi Shirley of Waukee, according to Dallas County records.
The commercial space on the building’s ground floor housed the offices of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1149, which represents the interests of 952 meat-processing laborers at Tyson Fresh Meats in Perry.
The Perry Police Department, Perry Public Works Department and Perry First Responders also responded to the incident.
ThePerryNews.com will update this story as information becomes available.
