Fire Officials Say Icy Roads Slowed Response Time

Fire officials in the northeastern South Dakota town of Columbia say icy roads hampered efforts to reach a house fire.

Officials say the Saturday afternoon blaze destroyed the Shad Albrecht residence in Columbia, which is north of Aberdeen.

Columbia Fire Chief Corey Mitchell says no injuries were reported, although two adults and at least one child were home when the fire broke out.

Mitchell says the icy roads made it difficult for firefighters to reach the home before significant damage occurred, and high winds caused the fire to spread rapidly.

It took firefighters about four hours to put out the fire.