A historic home in the West Hill neighborhood of Muscatine, Iowa, was destroyed by fire.
The fire was reported around noon Tuesday, December 1, 2015, at 315 West Third Street.
Firefighters reported seeing smoke coming from the basement and attic when they arrived.
"Once entry was made crews initiated a fire attack, but due to structural weakness, an effective attack was not possible," said a statement from Muscatine Fire Marshal Mike Hartman. "Crews were forced to utilize defensive tactics in order to safely contain the fire."
That means firefighters were forced to stay outside the home, and work to prevent damage to neighboring and adjoining property while confining fire to the original address. More than 30 firefighters from Muscatine, Fruitland, and Wilton fire departments responded.
A man who lives alone was inside the house at the time of the fire, Hartman said. The man got safely out of the house, but was taken to a local hospital for a medical condition not directly related to the fire.
Flames were eventually visible from the roof of the large two-story home. Parts of the home began collapsing around 3 p.m.
The house sustained major structural damage and is expected to be a complete loss, with the dollar amount of the loss estimated at $300,000, Hartman said.
No injuries from the fire were reported.
State records showed it is the William and Harry W. Huttig House, built by lumber industrialist William Huttig in the late 1800s; it was petitioned to be listed as a historic site, according to information from the Musser Public Library.
