Concrete Workers Pull Two Children From Burning Evansdale Duplex

Authorities are crediting two men with saving two children from a burning duplex in Evansdale Monday afternoon (April 6, 2015).

Travis Moen and Ryan Siems were pouring concrete on a driveway nearby, when the fire broke out at 326 Bellefontaine Street shortly after 2:15 p.m.

According to Evansdale Police Sergeant Jeff Jensen, Wendi Smith ran from the two-story duplex screaming that her bedroom was on fire and her children were inside. Moen and Siems rushed into the apartment through thick smoke and found a three-year-old boy upstairs and a five-year-old girl on the ground floor.

"They wasted no time responding," Jensen said. "With disregard to their own personal safety, they both went up there and got that child out of the back bedroom. They got everyone out of the apartment by the time I arrived on scene, which was a godsend because I don't know what would have happened if they hesitated a moment."

Jensen said he was patrolling nearby and arrived at the scene just 30 seconds after receiving the call. In that short of time, the fire had already grown intense.

"The smoke was rolling out of the window bad," he said. "Flames had blown out the window already and were taking over, lapping at the roof."

Fire crews from Evansdale, Gilbertville, Raymond and Waterloo were all called to the scene. According to Jensen, firefighters had the blaze under control in a short time and contained most of the damage to the apartment where the fire started. He said the adjoining apartment at 328 Bellefontaine Street sustained mainly smoke damage.

No injuries were reported, but Jensen said six people were displaced by the fire. The Hawkeye Chapter of the American Red Cross was called to assist both families with emergency shelter.

Jensen said investigators believe the fire was started by a child playing with a cigarette lighter.