DALLAS COUNTY, Iowa — Perry internet provider Bits of Technology Wireless Internet (BTWI) is “paying it forward” to the firefighters who battled a large fire at their company headquarters over the weekend.

On Saturday at around 10:30 a.m. the Perry Fire Department was called to BTWI’s headquarters in the 14000 block of 210th Street on a report of a fire. When firefighters arrived at the scene they found the structure engulfed in flames.

Multiple agencies were called in to assist, including the Yale, Jamaica, and Bagley Volunteer Fire Departments, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, and EMS. Firefighters were able to put out the flames, but had to return on Saturday afternoon due to the fire rekindling.

According to the fire department, the building as well as a nearby semi-trailer were considered a total loss. The investigation into the fire is ongoing.

On Tuesday BTWI released a statement about the fire, thanking first responders for their actions. The statement reads in part:

First and foremost, words cannot describe our gratitude for the men and women with the Bagley, Jamaica, Perry, and Yale Volunteer Fire Departments and all those involved. Their response time to our emergency was unbelievable. Our headquarters is located a minimum of 15 minutes away from the station and they were at our location to assist in 20 minutes. That means, in less than 5 minutes these volunteers stopped what they were doing in their own lives and came to our aid. They fought the fire for hours in 5-degree weather and had relentless determination to save whatever they could.

BTWI

Since the fire BTWI said they’ve received an outpouring of love and support from the community. The support was so humbling that the BTWI has decided to pay it forward to the firefighters who helped them on Saturday.

BTWI has started a GoFundMe to raise money that will go directly to the fire departments who helped fight Saturday’s fire. Donations can be made online on the GoFundMe site, or checks made payable to Local Volunteer Fire Fighters can be mailed to PO Box 98 Perry, Iowa 50220. Donations will be accepted until March 31.

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