Combustible siding and a strong wind helped quickly spread fire that engulfed a home in Fort Dodge, Iowa. When it was over, three people were dead and four others taken to an area hospital after being forced out of the burning home.
“Severe fire conditions were found throughout a single family two story home which had spread rapidly, pushed by a strong wind and aided by combustible exterior siding,” said a statement from the Fort Dodge Fire Department. Three alarms were sounded in response to the fire just before 1 p.m. Sunday, February 22, 2015, sending nearly two dozen firefighters to the burning house. The intensity of the fire prevented rescuers from going inside until most of the fire was extinguished from the outside.
“Three victims were found dead in a second floor bedroom after initial entry by fire personnel,” the fire department statement said. The victims were identified as 25-year-old Amy Devlin, five-year-old Joseph Kennedy and Amy’s son, six-month-old Bryce Devlin. The exact cause of their deaths remained under investigation. The identities of the four survivors were not released.
The cause of the fire was still undetermined as of Monday morning, February 23. “The fire does not appear to be of suspicious nature at this time,” the fire department statement said.
