Family loses dog in Mt. Pleasant house fire

MT. PLEASANT — A Mt. Pleasant family suffered damage to their home and lost their family dog, Tank, in a house fire, Wednesday evening, and the community immediately rallied around them.

Around 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 26, emergency crews from Mt. Pleasant, New London, and Salem responded to reports of a house fire in the 400-block of North Main Street.

While the initial fire located on the first level of the two-story home was quickly knocked down by Mt. Pleasant and New London crews, a total of 25 firefighters spent approximately three hours going through the home to check for hot spots.

Considering the extreme heat of the week and smoke from the fire, emergency personnel took extra caution.

Even before knowing the extent of the fire, the community began to rally together as they brought emergency crew members drinking water during their three hours working to ensure the fire was out.

In the same way, the community has already began to rally support for Deanya and Bill Birdsell family after this loss as a social media campaign begins to spread.

“The Birdsell's had a home fire, they are safe however they lost their beloved dog Tank,” Deanya’s sister-in-law Michell Ailey posted to Facebook. “They will be in transition and working through the process to restore their home. Please consider giving to them to help with all of the unexpected expenses.”

Ailey says those wishing to help can gift the family virtually via Venmo @Deanya-Birdsell or Cash App $billbirdsell or mail gift cards to P.O. Box 863 Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641

The cause of this fire remains under investigation at this time.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com