(Villisca, IA) – Officials say a malfunctioning water heater was the apparent cause of  fire Sunday afternoon in rural Villisca. Accordng to Red Oak Fire Chief John Bruce, firefighters from Villisca, Grant, Red Oak and Stanton responded to a reported basement fire at 2374 Union Avenue, or about two-miles north of Villisca, at around 12:40-p.m., Sunday.  Soon after they arrived, crews safely evacuated the lone occupant of the residence.

Firefighters were then quickly able to extinguish the fire in the basement. Chief Bruce says the fire apparently started by a mechanical malfunction with a water heater that ignited combustible materials nearby. Family and friends were assisting the homeowner in finding a temporary means of shelter.

No injuries were reported, and damage to the home was limited. Other agencies assisting during the incident included: Villisca Ambulance; Montgomery County Communications; The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and MidAmerican Energy.