Firefighters said there were no working smoke detectors in a Muscatine, Iowa home where five people were hurt in a fire.
The fire was reported before 1 a.m. Monday, August 5, 2013 at a home in the 100 block of Roscoe Avenue in southern Muscatine. Firefighters reported flames were coming from the first and second floors on the back side of the home when they arrived.
Two adults and three children were inside the home at the time of the fire, and all five were out of the home when firefighters arrived. All five were reportedly taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries that included burns and smoke inhalation. Two family pets were also rescued from the burning home.
There were unconfirmed initial reports that two of those victims had injuries that were considered serious, and that one of those victims was airlifted to a hospital in Iowa City.
One of the victim’s family members, Christina Turner, said she received a phone call at about 3:30 a.m. Monday telling her that her mom, dad, two brothers, and nephew were all in the hospital because of the fire.
Firefighters from at least two neighboring communities helped Muscatine crews battle the fire.
Muscatine Fire Chief Jerry Ewers said there were no working smoke detectors found in the home.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
