Fire damages rural Brighton home

BRIGHTON — A house fire at the edge of Brighton’s city limits drew several departments to the area June 18, where officials said a blaze heavily damaged the home.

Brighton Fire Chief Bill Farmer said nobody was hurt in the incident, and that no one was home at the time the fire broke out.

“We think the house would be a total loss, that will be determined by the insurance company,” he said in an email to The Union.

Farmer explained that firefighters believe the fire started in the basement and climbed through a wall to the attic, and that an electrical malfunction was determined to be the cause. He said holes had to be cut in the roof and south end to access the fire, most of which was in the attic.

Farmer said Red Cross representatives were in contact with the property’s former residents.

A Washington County Call For Service log said the fire was reported by someone who saw smoke coming from the roof of the residence on 335th Street near Highway 78, shortly before noon on June 18.

On Facebook, Brighton’s fire department thanked others for mutual aid on the call, including departments from Washington, Wayland, and Richland, as well as a handful of local Quick Response Service responders and county officials.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com