REAL DUBUQUE NEWS (RDN)
Update: Neighbors recount ladder rescues as firefighters pulled two from Dubuque apartment fire
LOCAL NEWS WIRE • November 10, 2026
Firefighters pulled two occupants from windows and balconies with ground ladders Saturday at 280 W. 17th St.; crews also reunited six to 10 dogs with owners and sheltered a cat.
KEY FACTS & RECORD HIGHLIGHTS
- Firefighters were dispatched to 280 W. 17th St. shortly before 6:20 p.m. Saturday for a fire at a three-story, 30-unit residential building.
- Crews found heavy fire and smoke coming from a first-floor unit and deployed ground ladders to pull two occupants directly from windows or balconies.
- Neighbor Faith Beherends, who lives directly behind the complex, described a chaotic scene as firefighters brought people down by ladder.
- Firefighters brought the blaze under control within 10 minutes of dispatch, at about 6:27 p.m.
- Police and fire personnel reunited roughly six to 10 dogs with their owners and rescued a dog trapped on an exterior balcony; officers also secured an evacuated cat with temporary shelter coordinated through the Dubuque Regional Humane Society.
- Two occupants were taken by ambulance to a local hospital for evaluation of minor injuries; one firefighter also suffered a minor injury.
- The American Red Cross is providing emergency sheltering assistance to displaced households.
- City officials estimated about $580,000 in damage; the building is valued at nearly $4.5 million, with crews credited for saving roughly $3.9 million in property.
- Dubuque Fire investigators have since determined a lit candle that melted down started the blaze after the resident fell asleep.
REAL DUBUQUE NEWS (RDN)
Neighbors are recounting the ladder rescues during the fast-moving fire that swept through a Dubuque apartment complex Saturday evening, sending three people to the hospital with minor injuries and displacing residents across 20 units.
According to KCRG, firefighters were dispatched to 280 W. 17th St. shortly before 6:20 p.m. Saturday for a fire at a three-story, 30-unit residential building. Crews found heavy fire and smoke coming from a first-floor unit and forced entry into multiple sections of the complex, deploying ground ladders to pull two occupants directly from windows or balconies while guiding several others out.
Faith Beherends, a neighbor who lives directly behind the complex, was returning home when the blaze erupted. She told KCRG her husband heard a pop before flames spread, and described a chaotic scene with a mother worried about children and animals inside while firefighters brought people down by ladder.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control within 10 minutes of dispatch, at about 6:27 p.m., before salvage and overhaul work to extinguish hot spots.
First responders also conducted extensive animal rescues through the evening. According to KCRG, Dubuque police and fire personnel reunited roughly six to 10 dogs with their owners and rescued a dog trapped on an exterior balcony after the flames were doused. Officers also secured an evacuated cat and coordinated temporary shelter with the Dubuque Regional Humane Society.
Two occupants were taken by ambulance to a local hospital for evaluation of minor injuries. One firefighter also suffered a minor injury. The American Red Cross is providing emergency sheltering assistance to displaced households, while other tenants found temporary accommodations with family and friends.
City officials estimated the fire caused about $580,000 in damage. The building is valued at nearly $4.5 million, with fire crews credited for saving roughly $3.9 million in property.
Dubuque Fire investigators have since determined a lit candle that melted down started the blaze after the resident fell asleep, as Real Dubuque News reported Monday.