A Marshalltown business building at 135 East Main was destroyed by an overnight fire.  Marshalltown fire department responded to the call last night at 11 PM. 

The 3 story building housed the LaNortenita Grocery on street level, with the upper two stories basically empty.
 
            Marshalltown Fire Chief Steve Edwards this fire challenged his department’s resources.  There was  a lot of fire load inside.  The Marshalltown Fire Department was assisted by the Haverhill, Albion, and Toledo Fire Departments.  Two ladder trucks were used to fight the flames.
 
 
            The building on the corner of 2^nd Avenue and East Main luckily had a fire-wall which kept the fire from spreading to nearby businesses.  Edwards credited the fire wall in keeping the fire from spreading to adajacent buildings on the block.
 
                       
            Two ladder trucks were used to put water on the top of the structure, once it was determined the fire couldn’t be fought from the inside.  When firefighters arrived, flames were coming from the back door.   
 
                        
            Fire crews are on scene, watching for hot spots, and to be sure the outer walls of the structure Doesn’t collapse onto the sidewalk.   Three blocks of East Main were closed off, and will remain closed off until its determined the walls won't collapse.
 
                       
    The cause of the fire and the damage estimate are not yet available.  The State Fire Marshall’s office will be in Marshalltown investigating the fire.
 
           The building was the former home of  KFJB radio with 2^nd floor studios at that location from 1949 to 1979.
 

Photos below were contributed by Ed Farmer and Cassie DeSisso.