MASON CITY, IA---At least a few firefighters will keep watch overnight on the ruins of a former lumberyard warehouse that burned to the ground on Monday night.
They will be watching for hotspots or flare-ups.
Building owner John Boland said he left his building in the 18-hundred block of South Pierce Avenue at around 5:30 p.m. Monday evening everything was fine.
He received a phone call about an hour later telling him it was on fire.
"It's burning so hot and so fast," said Boland over the phone Monday night as he watched the building he's owned for about 20-years go up in flames nearby.
Boland found it hard to describe his thoughts as he talked about the 7 vehicles inside.
He said there were "some beautiful street rods, restored old trucks and cars and an RV.”
Boland was also storing a Corvette and an MG for a friend.
Tim Determan was about a block away with his wife at the time of the fire, "We were inside a building and we just heard a bang and about 30 seconds later we heard another one and we didn't know what was going on we could hear the fire trucks."
Boland confirmed there was automotive paint inside in what he called his "beautiful hobby shop."
It was a serious concern for firefighters.
"We do hear some container explosions, I’m assuming that's what it is so we're just kind of putting large diameter hose lines on it and putting a lot of water on it," said Mason City Fire Chief Bob Platts Monday evening.
Firefighters found themselves in a defensive mode from the start as they tried to get the flames under control.
They also used extra caution as a breeze blew thick smoke from the fire to the West.
"We're not sure what's in there exactly so taking the precautions to keep them safe getting them in breathing apparatus so they have good air to breathe," said Platts.
No one was inside the building at the time of the fire and no firefighters were hurt fighting the flames.
The rubble is still too hot for investigators and there is no word about what caused the fire.
Utilities to some buildings nearby were shut down as a precaution.
