FORT DODGE, Iowa — A Fort Dodge fire crew got a call around 2:20 a.m. on Sunday about a fire at 1109 Central. When firefighters arrived they had an immediate problem — a woman on the third floor was trapped, and flames and heat were blowing her way. Another problem was that they didn’t have a ladder that could reach the woman.

“The engine that was there had a 24-foot extension ladder that will only get to second floor windows. We needed a 35-foot extension ladder,” said Fort Dodge Fire Chief Steve Hergenreter. “They had to bring into action and improvise. They raised the 24-foot ladder as high as it would go and then the engine also had a 14-foot ladder so a firefighter carried it up, placed it at the top of that, leaned into the window to where the occupant was there he had to hold on tight to to keep it braced as best he could.”

A fire truck with that 35-foot extension ladder would arrive in minutes, but they couldn’t wait. The Chief said that wasn’t a technique they’d been trained.

“I think it’s instinct, that just seeing the situation that occupant was in and knowing they had to do something right now,” said Hergenreter. “They were just adapting and overcoming that big obstacle, not having that ladder right there, right now.”

Six people were treated for smoke inhalation locally and one person was flown to Iowa City with burns.

The fire started on the third floor by the apartment near the street. No cause has been determined for the fire.

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