Eleven people are staying with family and friends following a fire that heavily damaged their Algona home on New Year’s Day.

A resident of the home located in the 200 block of 6th Ave. N. called 9-1-1 at 2:55 a.m. to report smoke coming from the second floor.

Three fire engines, a ladder truck, and an aid car from the VRFA responded to the scene, finding flames and smoke coming from the attic and roof area. Fortunately, all of the residents had evacuated safely.

Firefighters extinguished the fire in under an hour, but the home sustained heavy damage.

VRFA Investigators determined the cause of the fire to be accidental in nature. It began in the chimney and spread to the surrounding attic area.