Keota fire still under investigation

Bill Miller stands in front of what is left of the former lumber yard turned storage facility lost in Keota's early Saturday fire

As of Tuesday afternoon, smoke can still be seen rising from the rubble of area businesses.

Keota suffered one of it’s most historic fires early Saturday morning when a fire apparently started in the back of the old lumber yard. The facility owned by Bill Miller had no electrical service to that area of the building, so State Fire Marshal’s are still investigating the cause of what started the blaze.

Miller, owner of the old lumberyard turned storage facility stated that when he arrived at the scene at 4:30 am the fire was in the corner of the structure. The area of the blaze had been padlocked up. Miller stated that he thought it was contained to that area, then “it just took off”. Miller, who rented storage area to local residents for vehicle storage did his best to recover as many of them, but the smoke became to thick to continue.

The scorched side of the remaining Keota downtown buildings stand in stark contract to the clear blue skys and festive holiday decorations.

Miller owns an auto body repair shop just 2 doors down from where the fire started, and that building was damaged by the collapse of the brick structure next to it. “There was 8 fire departments here, and they were all working fantastic together. I’m just glad they saved the rest of Main Street.”

“There’s still times I wake up and think it’s just a bad dream.” Miller stated. He said he really feels for those that rented space from him to store their RV’s, boats and other vehicles that were not able to be saved from the flames.

Local firefighters were on the scene again last night putting out hot spots that once again flared up, as the rubble continues to smolder and smoke even over 72 hours past the initial reports of the fire.

The aftermath of the December 4th fire in downtown Keota, Iowa

Miller who rents some office space to local attorney Scott Flynn told of how they helped to get his important papers out of the repair shop building that his business is located in as well. There was uncertainty if the auto-body business and lawyer office  would be saved.

Lost in the fire were Bermel Insurance Agency, Bermel Laundromat, All Around Fitness and stuff Miller stored for the Post Prom committee.