Dollar General Fire
May 07, 2026
Launch the media gallery 1 playerLAMONI, Iowa — A commercial property fire at Dollar General was brought under control Wednesday thanks to the swift and coordinated efforts of multiple area fire departments.
Crews were dispatched shortly before 1 p.m. when reports came in of smoke coming from the structure. Firefighters from Lamoni, along with mutual aid support from neighboring departments including Eagleville, Garden Grove, Leon, Osceola, Van Wert, Weldon arrived and promptly began containment efforts. Also responding were the Decatur County Ambulance, Decatur County Sherriff’s Office, Lamoni EMS, Lamoni Municipal Utilities, and Lamoni Police Department.
The City of Lamoni would like to thank Southern Iowa Towing & Recovery and TNT Builders for their on-scene efforts early in the containment efforts. Also providing support to personnel with food and water for the fire fighters were Casey’s, Hy-Vee, and Pizza Hut.
According to officials on scene, the fire was believed to start in the ceiling. Great efforts were taken by all responding departments to prevent damage to and nearby properties. No injuries were reported.
Many community members expressed deep appreciation for the firefighters’ professionalism and quick action both on scene and over social media.
“We are incredibly grateful for the rapid response,” said Lamoni Fire Chief - Curt Shields. “Their teamwork and dedication kept this situation from becoming much worse.”
Fire crews remained on site for hours to extinguish hot spots and assess structural safety. Shields emphasized the importance of the region’s mutual aid system, noting that coordinated responses like this highlight the strength of community partnerships.
“Our fire department and local partners showed exceptional skill and cooperation,” said Mayor – Douglas Foster. “We thank every first responder who showed up to respond and protected our community.”
The commercial property owner is now working with authorities and insurance representatives to evaluate next steps.