THE FAMILY WAS ON VACATION AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. ALL THEY HAVE LEFT IS THE CLOTHES IN THEIR SUITCASE. I WONDER, IS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOING TO STRUCTURE FIRE, FULLY ENGULF A WINTER SET HOME, GOES UP IN FLAMES TUESDAY, AND FRANTIC FIREFIGHTER ERS RESPOND. WE’RE GOING TO NEED A FIRE AND A WATER CURTAIN BETWEEN THE BUILDING TO THE SOUTH. THE HOUSE IS ALREADY FULLY INVOLVED, BUT IT COULD TAKE OUT THESE BUILDINGS TO THE SOUTH. THOSE FIREFIGHTERS SOON REALIZE IT’S THE HOME OF ONE OF THEIR OWN. ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF JEFF JOHNSTON AND HIS WIFE APRIL CAME HOME FROM VACATION TO FIND THEIR HOME REDUCED TO RUBBLE. WE KEPT HEARING MORE AND MORE SIRENS, SO OBVIOUSLY THAT’S NOT A GOOD SIGN. AND A SMALL COMMUNITY. A FEW MILES AWAY AT THE SCHOOL, FEAR, SADNESS AND GRIEF. THE JOHNSTON’S FIVE KIDS, WHO WERE ALL STAYING WITH FRIENDS ARE OKAY BUT LOST EVERYTHING. I JUST FEEL SO BAD FOR THE FAMILY, ESPECIALLY AT THE HOLIDAY SEASON. THERE’S NO GOOD TIME FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. NOT ONLY IS JEFF JOHNSTON, A BELOVED VETERAN FIREFIGHTER, HE ALSO COACHES WRESTLING IN WINTER SET. GOT THE WORD OUT REALLY FAST THAT ANYBODY THAT WAS GOING TO COME TO THE DOOR LAST NIGHT OR BRING MONETARY DONATIONS OR GIFT CARDS AND WE COLLECTED OVER 1500 DOLLARS LAST NIGHT JUST IN A COUPLE OF HOURS. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY ACTS OF KINDNESS HAPPENING ACROSS TOWN TO HELP A MAN WHO IS NORMALLY THE ONE HELPING, NOT RECEIVING. THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE COMFORTABLE FOR JEFF. NO, NOT AT ALL. YES. ANYTHING YOU NEED, HE WOULD HE HE WOULD BE THERE FOR YOU. THE JOHNSON FAMILY NOW DEALING WITH A TREMENDOUS LOSS RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. FORTUNATELY, HE HAS THE GIFT OF SUPPORT FROM THE ENTIRE TOWN. ANYTIME WE HAVE A TRAGEDY LIKE THIS, PEOPLE JUST RALLY AROUND FOLKS AND TRY TO HELP IN ANY WAY THAT THEY CAN. IN WINTERSET, LAURA TERRELL, KCCI EIGHT NEWS IOWA’S NEWS LEADER WINTERSET FIRE CHIEF SAYS EARLY FINDINGS INDICATE THE FIRE WAS SPARKED BY A WIRING ISSUE. THE HOME WAS BEING REMODELED. THERE IS AN ACCOUNT SET UP AT THE FARMERS AND MERCHANTS BANK