Firefighters stand next to the brick building where they extinguished a fire Monday evening in downtown Riverside. Photo by Sally Y. Hart

Smoke filled downtown Riverside while firefighters from five area departments worked to extinguish flames. According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the fire at the apartment building was reported at 8 p.m. and there was one person with injuries.

The fire was in a brick building at 40 West First Street, on the south side of Highway 22, between Washburn Street and Glasgow Street. One person was taken by ambulance to the University of Iowa hospitals, a name has not been released at this time. As heard live on KCII from the scene Monday evening, crews battled the fire in freezing temperatures while smoke billowed into the street, a ladder truck was used at the scene. West First Street was blocked for hours while crews put out the fire.

Riverside, Ainsworth, Kalona, Hills, and Lone Tree Fire Departments responded to the scene, as well as Riverside Rescue, Washington County Ambulance, Alliant Energy, the State Fire Marshall, and Washington County Sheriff’s personnel. KCII will bring more information as it becomes official.