Eastern Iowa Fire Kills Three People

Fire officials say that three people have died in a blaze in the city of Muscatine. Assistant Fire Chief Mike Hartman said that crews were called to the fire at a home at 104 Clinton Street at around 6:30 p.m. on Monday.

When officials arrived, they found one person outside of a window. They were taken to a local hospital and are listed in critical condition. Neighbors said that they heard several children screaming in the street as police tried to break windows in the home in an attempt to get inside. They were unsuccessful. The fire department arrived shortly thereafter.

According to fire officials, crews found extreme heat, smoke, and flame conditions in the home. They said that numerous rooms in the house were in a "post-flashover state." That means that the rooms were completely engulfed in flames. Once firefighters were able to enter the structure, they found three people dead inside. Their identities have not been released.

The State Fire Marshall has been called in to help with the investigation.

[via KCRG]