SPENCER -- A two-story home in Spencer caught fire Friday evening when power returned to the flooded home causing sparks inside the wall to ignite.
McCook County Emergency Manager B.J. Stiefvater said the incident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. when the power was turned back on inside the home. Electrical arcs began sparking immediately inside the walls as waters flooded the basement and were 3- to 4 feet on the first level of the home.
Stiefvater said the Spencer Volunteer Fire Department was able to contain the fire quickly, and by approximately 7 p.m. the fire was out. The fire that started from the wires within the walls was doused quickly, and the room was sealed off to cut off oxygen limiting most of the fire damage to one room on the first floor inside the home, according to Stiefvater.
Stiefvater said the home was already a total loss due to the flooding. The residents of the home were at the house at the time of the fire dealing with the flood issue.
