Report chronicles problems leading to fire deaths in Keokuk

A lack of manpower, poor training and broken smoke detectors — those share the blame for the six deaths in last year’s house fire in Keokuk, according to a new federal report. Three firemen and three children perished in the blaze three days before Christmas.State Fire Marshal George Howe says the report on the Keokuk blaze from the National Fire Protection Association revealed no real secrets about the department or the fire — which was among the deadliest in Iowa history. He says it’s a fair assessment of information they were already aware of.Marshal Howe says the problems noted within the Keokuk department in the December 1999 fire are not unique to that southeastern Iowa town.Howe says a review is underway by the State Fire Service and Emergency Response Council which plans to establish minimum training standards for all fire departments statewide.