6-4-14 markesan fire

Two homes are total losses and one garage suffered significate damage following a fire in Markesan.  Markesan Police Chief Steven Braun says The Grand River Fire District responded to a house fire at 165 W. Manchester Street around 3:20 p.m. Saturday afternoon.  Due to high winds the fire transferred to a garage at 185 W. Manchester Street and to another home at 149 W. Manchester Street.  Braun says the department tried saving the homes but both are considered a total loss.  The garage sustained severe heat damage and broken windows.  Braun says the residents at 165 W. Manchester street were alerted by smoke detectors.  A family in the downstairs apartment consisting of a couple with two young children escaped without injury.  Braun says a 30-year-old woman living on the second floor escaped without injury, but a 28-year-old male was trapped and forced to jump out a window.  He sustained injuries to his right knee and ankle.  Braun says the residents of 149 W. Manchester Street were not home at the time of the fire.  Multiple area fire departments assisted at the scene with many firefighters treated for heat related ailments.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation.