A North Iowa firefighter and his family are picking up the pieces after their own home was severely damaged by fire. Mike Nilles, of Lu Verne, found three-foot flames rolling up the side of the cabinets above the stove Nov. 23 in his house on Hanna Street. A volunteer firefighter, Nilles immediately turned off the stove and alerted his wife, Lynzie. They, 2-year-old daughter, Brynlee, and four dogs — their three Weimaraners and their 16-year-old son’s German short hair pointer — got out safely.