LE MARS APARTMENT FIRE CAUSE DETERMINED

FIRE INVESTIGATORS SAY MONDAY'S BLAZE THAT DESTROYED A LE MARS APARTMENT BUILDING WAS ACCIDENTAL IN NATURE.

THE STATE FIRE MARSHALL AND LE MARS FIRE DEPARTMENT SAY A FURNACE SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED THE FIRE.

THE FIRE STARTED IN A DUCT ON THE THIRD FLOOR  WHICH QUICKLY SPREAD THROUGH AN OPEN ATTIC AREA AND DOWN THROUGH THE WALLS INTO THE SECOND FLOOR.

THE FIRE ALSO BURNED THROUGH THE ROOF OF THE STRUCTURE AND THE BUILDING WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

EIGHT PEOPLE WERE DISPLACED BECAUSE OF THAT FIRE. THEY ARE BEING ASSISTED BY THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.