LE MARS APARTMENT FIRE UNDER INVESTIGATION

Investigators with the State Fire Marshall's office are trying to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed a Le Mars apartment complex Monday afternoon.

That fire displaced 12 people from the apartments at 335 3rd Avenue S.E.  The three-story Victorian style stucco structure is listed as a total loss with damage estimates exceeding $100,000.

Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper says he had concerns about neighboring homes and he made the decision to battle the blaze from the top - down.



Firefighters were on the scene for four hours battling the blaze. No injuries were reported.