Blaze damages house for 2nd time in 2 weeks

By the Muscatine Journal | Tuesday, August 28, 2007

MUSCATINE, Iowa — The second house fire in two weeks at a Muscatine home had firefighters busy battling a blaze for hours early Monday.

The home at 809 E. 6th St. caught fire about 2:30 a.m., causing significant damage and some questions for officials to sort out.

Assistant Fire Chief Gary Lee said a previous fire at the same address in the early morning hours of Aug. 13 was a set fire, although it couldn’t be described as arson because intent hasn’t been established.

Lee also said because the home’s interior was being remodeled, fireproof material such as gypsum wallboard had been removed, possibly contributing to greater damage.

The fire was extinguished by about 6:30 a.m., Lee said.

The owners of the home are listed as Darwin and Evelyn Welker.

Fire department officials said Wayne Welker, their son, was residing in the home and was occupying the residence at the time of both fires.