Sioux City Fire Rescue crews were called to this brick apartment building at 1700 Morningside Ave. Sunday evening. The building was quickly engulfed in flames. No residents were seriously injured, and the number of displaced individuals is not yet known.
SIOUX CITY -- A haze of smoke blanketed portions of Sioux City's Morningside neighborhood Sunday evening as flames engulfed an apartment building along Morningside Avenue.
Sioux City Fire Rescue crews were called to the fire, at 1700 Morningside Ave., at around 5:44 p.m. Sunday. The fire was severe, and Deputy Fire Marshal Ryan Collins said that crews had little opportunity to go inside the building before being forced out due to a risk of collapse.
"Upon arrival, our crews discovered heavy smoke coming from the roof area; upon entry they made it to the third floor of the apartment and they were able to search that third floor. No occupants were found; everybody had evacuated," Collins said.
"Shortly thereafter, the fire's intensity quickly increased, and all crews were pulled out of the structure and the fire department went into a defensive posture. Basically, what that means is -- we just started pouring water on the fire from the street. The building was just too unsafe for our crews to be on the inside," he added.
No residents were injured in the blaze, though Collins said some were treated on the scene for smoke inhalation. Some pets were inside the building at the time of the fire, and their fate is presently unknown as fire crews were unable to re-enter "due to the structural instability of the building," Collins said.
"There were reports of some missing people at first, but those occupants have been located, so everybody is accounted for," Collins said.
Morningside College on Sunday night wrote in a Facebook post that some of the building's tenants were students of the college, which is across the street.
"We do know there were Morningside students who were tenants in the building. Administration is working with students to offer housing options and identify other needs they may have. If there are ways the community may assist with those needs, Campus Pastor Andy Nelson will be the point of contact and share that information as soon as it is available," Morningside wrote in its Facebook post.
Sioux City Fire Rescue crews were called Sunday evening to a fire at an apartment building on Morningside Avenue, shrouded by smoke in this photo.
A portion of Morningside Avenue nearest the fire was closed to traffic for a time Sunday evening.
The degree of damage to the apartment building, a large brick structure built in 1900, is not presently known exactly. "The damage is mostly likely going to be very extensive; the roof essentially has burnt off, which leads to issues with the exterior walls given the type of construction of the building. So there are collapse concerns to the exterior walls," Collins said.
The number of residents displaced from the building is also not known for certain, and the cause of the fire remains undetermined.
17 photos of historic Sioux City fires
Tolerton-Stetson Company fire
The Tolerton-Stetson Company wholesale grocery store, at Pearl and Second streets, was destroyed by fire in 1891.
Queal Lumber, 1892
One of the earliest major Sioux City fires destroyed the Queal Lumber yards at Third and Steuben streets at the height of the disastrous Floyd River flood of May 18, 1892. Quicklime stored in the sheds became ignited when water flooded the yards.
1904 Fire
The "big fire" of Dec. 23, 1904, wiped out two and a half blocks in the Sioux City business district located on the southeast corner of Fourth and Nebraska streets, causing damage estimated at $3 million.
Morningside College fire
April 29, 1912, was the date of the fire at Morningside College's Main Hall.
Lindholm fire, 1912
The Lindholm fire took place in March 1912. The Sioux City Journal was located in this building at the southwest corner of Fifth and Douglas streets.
1912 Mondamin Hotel fire
The Mondamin hotel fire in January 1912 destroyed the four-story brick structure. The Mondamin was relocated at Fourth and Pierce streets, which eventually became the site of the Martin hotel.
Bolton-Brown fire, 1914
The Brown block fire of March 26, 1914, ranks high on the list of disastrous Sioux City fires. Two firemen, Frank Folton and Seeley Lawton, lost their lives when the front wall toppled into Fourth Street and buried them under tons of debris.
Lerch Building fire 1918
The building at the southeast corner of Fifth and Douglas streets, known as the Lerch block, was destroyed by a fire in 1918.
Ruff disaster
The Ruff disaster, one of Sioux City’s biggest disasters, took place at the northeast corner of Fourth and Douglas streets on June 29, 1918. The building was being remodeled but collapsed during the remodeling, which then caused a fire. Thirty-seven people were killed.
Ruff Drug company fire
This 1918 photo captures the front section of the Ruff building, part of which was still standing, after an explosion at Fourth and Douglas streets.
International Milling Co., 1947
A fire destroyed the International Milling Co.'s plant in Leeds the morning of April 19, 1947.
Unitarian Church fire
The fire at the Unitarian Church, located at the corner of 10th and Douglas streets, took place July 29, 1948.
1953 West Hotel fire
Damages from the fire that destroyed the West Hotel at Third and Nebraska streets on April 19, 1953, was estimated at $200,000.
Curtis Co. fire, 1961
The Curtis Co. fire took place Aug. 23, 1961, at the corner of West Fourth and Perry streets in Sioux City. The building was abandoned when the fire occurred.
Perkins Seed Co. fire
The third major fire in downtown Sioux City in less than 10 days in 1966 caused extensive damage to Perkins Seed Co.
Bomgaars fire
A 1966 fire damaged the Bomgaars Supply store in downtown Sioux City.
1968 Central Hotel fire
A photo of the aftermath of the 1968 Central Hotel fire in Sioux City.
Mason Dockter
Lifestyles Reporter
