A northest Iowa woman is dead following a house fire near Sioux Rapids in Clay County.The Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office says 70 -year-old Colleen Geisinger of Sioux Rapids died in the blaze.Sioux Rapids firefighters were called to the Bruce Geisinger home around 11 o’clock last (Sunday) night. Crews from Peterson arrived to provide mutual aid. Officials learned there were two people in the house.Bruce Geisinger was able to escape the burning home. Firefighters found his wife, but it was too late to save her.The investigation determined the fire was accidentally started by smoking materials that ignited the bed in Colleen’s room. An autopsy will be performed on her body. Bruce Geisinger was taken by ambulance to the Spencer Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. He was lifeflighted to a hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.The home received heavy smoke, fire and water damage. The Fire Marshal’s office estimates damages could reach 80-thousand dollars.
