A call came in about a structure fire at 3202 S. 12th Street, Lot 205, at 8:16 a.m. Six firefighters in two trucks arrived on the scene at about 8:21 a.m.

When firefighters arrived, flames were spotted coming from the bedroom windows of the home on its west side. The blaze damaged the exterior of the neighboring home to the west.

Members of the department entered the home to search for occupants but nobody was in the home at the time. They exited the home and the crew suppressed the fire from the outside.

“When we arrived it was already in that venting process,” said Josh Warnell, Marshalltown fire marshal.

Warnell said the crew reentered the home after getting the blaze under control from the outside.

Alliant Energy was called in to shut utilities off to the residence.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

“We think it was in the corner of the bedroom — possible electrical,” Warnell said. “The homeowner was not here at the time. What I was told was that an electrical fireplace was left on. Those things run about 1,500 watts. Those things with long extended use can burn up cords and cause issues.”

The structure is still standing but sustained heavy smoke damage. Warnell said it is uninhabitable in its current state but can be repaired.

The crew remained at the scene for about three hours. Warnell said he is coordinating the investigation with the Marshalltown Police Department which also responded.

Warnell credited a prompt response and a nearby fire hydrant with saving the structure.

“Most of the time a trailer — it doesn’t take long for them to go up,” he said. “It was actually a good sign and we don’t have a windy day too. You can have a collapse on these things.”

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Contact Joe Fisher at 641-753-6611 or jfisher@timesrepublican.com