Gladbrook house fire under ongoing investigation
Trending
GLADBROOK - A house fire in Gladbrook that took place earlier this month during an extended heat wave is now under investigation.
"There was a reported house fire at 314 Fifth Street in Gladbrook at [2:01 a.m.] this morning," Tama County Chief Deputy Joe Quandt told the newspaper via email Friday, Sept. 4. "The Sheriff's Office did respond with Gladbrook Fire & Ambulance. The fire is under investigation."
According to weather data courtesy of Weather Underground’s Ohrt Farm reporting station located in Gladbrook, during the two-day stretch from Sept. 3 to Sept. 4, Tama County was experiencing a hot and humid weather pattern well above seasonal averages. Temperatures peaked that Thursday at 89 degrees in Gladbrook and Friday at 92 degrees. There was little relief overnight from the mugginess as the dew point remained at or above 70.
"That one pushed all our guys past their limits, but we stuck with it until backup arrived," Craig Sash, lieutenant and training officer for Gladbrook Fire and Rescue, told the newspaper in a text-based exchange Friday, Sept. 11, one week after the fire.
"Even though it was [2 a.m.], temps were in the low 80s with high humidity. Setting up the pumper took longer than we like, partly due to proximity of a hydrant combined with the fire on the back side of the residence (only) accessed through a narrow alley. We were able to knock it down and make an interior attack and get it under control."
The home is located directly east of the Gladbrook-Reinbeck softball fields, across a mowed lot. According to online real estate records, 314 Fifth Street is owned by the late Amy D. Oderwald, who passed away in October 2025. Oderwald purchased the home in 2020.
Since this past February, the property has been in foreclosure proceedings initiated by Onslow Bay Financial LLC, based in New York. According to court documents filed in Tama County District Court, payments ceased beginning in September 2025. Onslow Bay Financial filed a motion for summary judgment in the case July 16.
Roughly one month later, on Aug. 14, Oderwald's sister "and only known heir" Melaine Oderwald (aka Malanie K. Forrester) filed a resistance to the motion for summary judgment, claiming she was "in possession of the real estate." She also claimed that following Oderwald's death, she attempted to make payments on the mortgage but that such payments were "refused" by the lender. Oderwald's estate is currently in probate proceedings.
In her Aug. 14 filing, Melaine Oderwald further claimed she obtained financing for the purchase of the property but that she could not proceed until the title was in her name as the sole heir. Also as part of that filing, Melaine Oderwald described herself as "a disabled American veteran" and said that the residence "is her only home."
The fire on Sept. 4 was characterized as a total loss by Sash.
"All occupants were out of the house prior to our arrival," he told the newspaper. "The call came in through neighbors reporting it upon seeing flames. ... [The neighboring house] did sustain siding damage but thankfully that is all."
Traer Fire Department also assisted at the scene that night. Per Sash, they arrived in the nick of time.
"Thankfully, when every single one of us was completely spent, Traer Fire got there and put out hot spots and mopped up. [Due to] some discoveries on scene and comments made to law enforcement, the cause of the fire was suspicious in nature so the (State) Fire Marshall was notified."
When contacted last Friday, Quandt confirmed the investigation was ongoing and that the State Fire Marshall was assisting.