POSTVILLE - Firefighters from over a dozen different fire departments spent Saturday fighting a fire in downtown Postville. The fire started around 10:30 Saturday morning at 112 Lawler Street, the lower level of the building used to be home to the The Postville Bakery & Restaurant.

The investigation continues into the fire, but Fire Chief Jeff Bohr said the cause appears to be a stove fire, which spread to several other apartments also on the upper level of the two-story building.

The American Red Cross says all 18 people escaped without serious injuries. Fire officials on the scene said one man received minor burns to his hand.

Streets within three blocks of the bakery were closed. No evacuations were conducted, although people in some businesses left the area during the fire, Postville Police Sgt. Ted Jacobson said.

Next door to the former bakery is John's Appliance.

"It's a tragedy, but you can see how much support there is here," said John Matt, owner of John's Appliance. That support came from friends and strangers who helped Matt get records and paperwork from his place. What they didn't take is now soaked and ruined.

"With everything that has gone on in Postville the last few years, what would you expect? Everybody, ever since the raid has pitched in," said Dean Ohloff, a longtime resident of Postville.

"When tragedy happens, everybody pitches in together, that's what we're about here," said Mike Kruckenberg, a longtime resident of Postville.

Residents in the community say the town came together years before last May's immigration raid which happened just up the street at the Agriprocessors kosher meat packing plant.

"It all started, we had the turkey plant fire, then the vet clinic burned, then the raid and it's just how much pain does a town have to suffer before we get a break? But I guess what don't kill you only makes you stronger, said Matt.

Churches and the Red Cross helped the people who lost their apartments.

The help amazed Jennifer Herrera, the owner of the building and the now-closed bakery. "The people bringing food from out of nowhere, it's like manna from heaven. And I just would like to say thank you to everybody for helping out today," said Herrera.

And so ended day one in Postville's latest challenge.

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Additional information courtesy the Fayette County Union-West Union and the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier.