Rural Mills County Fire Leaves Family Homeless

The residents of a rural Mills County rental house lost their home and most of their belongings in a fire Thursday afternoon.

Firefighters from Glenwood and Pacific Junction responded to a blaze at the 122-year-old, two-story farmhouse, located at 64789 232nd Street (near 232nd and Pease Road). The fire, which is believed to have started in a wood-burning stove in the kitchen, was reported shortly after 2 p.m. Firefighters worked for over three hours putting out the fire and securing the property.

Mills County Emergency Management Director Larry Hurst said the structure was being rented to Kayla Simpson and her boyfriend Austin Goodman. Simpson has three children under the age of 3, Hurst said. The property is owned by Bruce and Jacqueline Wilson, according to documents at the county assessor’s office.

Hurst said the American Red Cross has been assisting the family and support was being offered by local residents on social media sites. A Go Fund Me account has been established (gofundme.com/rebuilding-for-kayla-the-babies).