Suspicious fire destroys vacant house near Shellsburg

Investigators said an early-morning fire that destroyed a vacant house and garage near Shellsburg is suspicious.

A medical helicopter spotted the fire at 3346 Strawn Rd. around 5 a.m. and notified authorities. The first firefighters to arrive found the fire blazing.

“The garage was already gone, and the house was fully involved,” said Brentt Stepanek, Palo assistant fire chief.

Stepanek said the fire started in the detatched garage and spread to the house. No utilities had been hooked up to the house, which had been vacant for at least five years, a sheriff's deputy said.

The property is owned by Gerald Hanover, according to the Linn County assessor's website. A family member at the scene, who declined to be identified, said his great-great grandfather built the house. He said many of his great grandmother's belongings were still inside.

Both the house and garage burned to the ground, and only a concrete and metal staircase remained.

Firefighters were still dousing hot spots at 8:30 a.m., as investigators looked for clues about what started the fire.

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