Fremont Couple Escapes Home

Oskaloosa Fire Department assisted Cedar Township Fire (Fremont) in this house fire Monday Morning

Fremont, Iowa – A young couple was asleep when they awoke to their home on fire Monday morning around 10:00 am.

The house belonging to Blayne Johnson, at 134 S. Cumberland in Fremont, was still smoldering at noon, with Cedar Township Fire and Oskaloosa Fire still on the scene. The high winds made battling the blaze extra difficult. After the roof collapsed onto the ceiling the fire was able to move into that space. This made it difficult for firefighters to enter the dangerous structure to finish extinguishing the flames.

When the couple woke up, the roof was already engulfed and appeared ready to collapse. Rachel Shackelford, Johnson’s girlfriend, grabbed the 8 puppies and their dog and headed outside to safety. Rachel’s mother, Sara Boorman, explained.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but Shackelford’s family said they thought maybe it was an electrical issue that lead to the fire.

“They’re safe, everything else is replaceable”, was Boorman response as she watched firefighters work on extinguishing the flames. She was able to be right there for her daughter, because her employer was closed for the federal holiday.

Cedar Township Fire Chief Kendal Sines will be investigating further into the cause of the fire.

Cedar Township Fire was assisted on the scene by Oskaloosa Fire Department, Fremont Ambulance, and Mahaska County Emergency Management.