A devastating fire left a rural Dubuque County home in ruins on Monday afternoon, rendering the property a total loss. The blaze was reported at 12:20 p.m. at 15692 Hickory Valley Road, and no injuries were reported as homeowners Dale and Carlene Langel were not present at the time.
“It’s a sad sight,” Dale Langel shared. “I just can’t think of anything. It’s basically all gone.” The Langels, who had lived in the New Vienna house for 31 years and raised three children there, had just celebrated Thanksgiving with family days before the tragedy.
“We had a nice, little Thanksgiving dinner. Sat around, talked for a while,” Langel said, recalling fond memories of the home.
Preliminary investigations suggest the fire started near an exterior electrical box, with no signs of foul play. The damage is estimated at $180,000.
New Vienna/Luxemburg Fire Chief Mark Lukan explained that crews arrived within 10 minutes of the call but faced several challenges due to freezing temperatures. “We had to truck water because we’re about four or five miles from New Vienna,” Lukan said. “Our lines were freezing, and the icy ground made it difficult for firefighters to maneuver.”
Fire departments from Holy Cross, Farley, Dyersville, and Epworth joined in through mutual aid efforts, which Lukan credited with salvaging some of the family’s belongings. “Mutual aid plays a huge part in rural fires. We all train together, and that training paid off today,” he said.
However, Lukan also highlighted the strain caused by a shortage of volunteer firefighters, particularly during daytime hours. “Every department sent a few guys, and we put a team together,” he noted.
The American Red Cross is assisting the Langels with temporary housing as they begin the process of rebuilding their lives.