February 11, 2026

Estherville, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) — Estherville Fire Chief Travis Sheridan has released some additional information about a Monday afternoon shed fire immediately North of town. As we reported yesterday, there were multiple vehicles and pieces of large equipment inside the shed. Sheridan says the flammable material inside the structure and multiple explosions prevented firefighters from making entry.

Hauling water to the scene was the main priority of the Gruver and Wallingford fire departments. Spirit Lake and Dunnell fire departments were called in after the roof collapsed.

The conflagration was reported by a passing motorist at 4:12 and firefighters were on the scene for five hours.

There were no injuries and a possible cause is still under investigation.

 

 

Original story:

 

Estherville, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) — Estherville Fire Chief Travis Sheridan says a machine shed filled with heavy equipment and vehicles was a total loss in a Monday afternoon fire.
The blaze at 1485 385th Avenue – less than a mile North of town – was reported around 4pm by a motorist who called 9-1-1. Within half an hour the roof collapsed.
Fire departments from Dunell, Wallingford, Gruver, and Spirit Lake had been called for backup, and water had to be transported to the scene.
Sheridan says nobody was home at the time and a cause has not yet been determined. The Emmet County Assessor’s office lists the owner of the property as the Ruby Harris Revocable Trust.