Crews Respond to Fire at Historic Iowa Theatre

Firefighters are trying to put out flames at a historic downtown movie theatre in a small southeastern Iowa town.

Firefighters responded to a report of smoking coming from the second floor of the State Theatre in downtown Washington at 9:20 a.m. on Wednesday morning. Crews remained on the scene more than an hour later.

Authorities say firefighters who responded saw smoke and flames. There are no reports of injuries, and the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are unknown.

The Washington Chamber of Commerce says the theatre was originally built as an opera house in 1893 and is now owned by Des Moines-based Fridley Theatres. Washington is a city of 7,000 located about 35 miles south of Iowa City.

“Megamind” was playing there this week.