Fire leaves Oto couple homeless    

A fire completely destroyed the home of Layne and Lauri Chase in Oto, Iowa on Wednesday, October 25. The couple had left their home about 2:30 p.m. to go to Onawa. When they returned home at about 4:30 p.m. their home and all of its contents was gone.

The Oto Fire Department was called to the Chase home, located on the south edge of Oto near Highway 31, at about 3:13 p.m., according to Larry Bumsted, Oto Fire Chief.

When fire fighters arrived at the home it was totally engulfed and fire was coming out the windows and roof, Bumsted said. There isn't a fire hydrant near the house so neighboring departments were called to help. Responding were fire fighters from Anthon, Smithland and Danbury. A 2100-gallon tank was set up to provide water to fight the fire. A section of Highway 31 was closed by the Woodbury County Sheriff's office to allow tankers to off load water to the large tank. Fire crews remained on the scene until almost 9:00 p.m. putting out hot spots and making sure that the scene was safe.

An investigation by the State Fire Marshall's office determined that the fire started from smoking materials in a chair located in the northeast corner of the home. No one was injured in the fire, but the couple's two adult cats and four kittens died in the fire.

A benefit for the Chases will be held on Friday, November 10 at Weber's Hall in Oto. It is being sponsored by the Oto Community Club. A special account has been set up for them at Heritage Bank in Anthon.