Authorities in northeast Iowa say a fire in a home where at least two mothers were staying has claimed multiple lives — but they won’t yet say how many died. Delaware County authorities confirm several people died in a farmhouse fire near Greeley early Wednesday morning.
County Emergency Management Director Mike Ryan says they’re working to identify the victims and no names have been released. He says several people were in the home overnight but he’s not sure if they all lived there or if some were visiting. Ryan says four people were taken to the hospital. One of the mothers was transferred to Iowa City Hospitals with spinal injuries.
Two injuries were frostbite-related and another person burned an arm. Officials were notified of the fire after one of the mothers fled the burning home, went to the neighbor’s house and called 911. Ryan says crews worked through some difficult elements to help the victims and put out the blaze.
The farmstead was on top of a hill and efforts were hampered by the freezing temperatures and snow. He says investigators will be sifting through the debris of the home. The State Fire Marshall’s office is investigating the cause. More details will be released as information becomes available.