Iowa City firefighters respond to crash, downed power line, house fire

The Iowa City Fire Department responded to a backhoe crash, house fire and downed power line at the corner of Fairchild and Linn streets Wednesday, according to a news release from the department.

First responders were called at 1:14 p.m. Wednesday in response to the back- hoe crash. The backhoe was on Fairchild Street, which is closed, as part of a street reconstruction project.

The call was quickly upgraded to a fire response as the house at 230 Fairchild St. caught fire. When firefighters arrived, at 1:24 p.m., they found smoke coming from all sides of the house and a power pole with a transformer on the ground near the front yard of the home. One person was trapped in the backhoe, with power lines draped over it, the release stated.

The fire was located in the attic and brought under control by 2:05 p.m. and extinguished by 2:41 p.m.

A city spokesperson said backhoe crash was part of a series of events leading to the fire, but the incident remains under investigation.

The person in the backhoe was safely removed and there were no occupants in the house. No civilians or firefighters were injured.

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