Firefighters from six departments, Polk, Plymouth, LaPaz, Walkerton, Koontz Lake and North Liberty responded to a structure fire Wednesday morning at 8 a.m. at 16805 4B Road.
The property is owned by Robert E. Swartz.
The manufactured home sits about a quarter of a mile off the road down a narrow, winding dirt lane. Due to the condition of the driveway only two fire trucks were able to get back to the home which was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived on the scene. Firefighters had to transport water to the scene and pump it up the lane using long hoses to reach the site.
The fire was discovered by an employee of the Marshall County Highway Department and called 9-1-1.
The home was a total loss but firefighters were able to save the detached garage.
It’s estimated that nearly 50,000 gallons of water was used to battle the blaze.
A cause had not been determined and the State Fire Marshall’s office has been called to assist in the investigation.
