(Spencer)—A fire last (Mon.) night at a Spencer apartment has claimed a life.
Spencer Fire Chief Doug Duncan says firefighters were called to an apartment at 503 West Sixth Street in Spencer shortly after 10:30 p.m.
Upon arriving, firefighters encountered heavy fire coming from the three-unit building.
Firefighters were told a person might still be in a first-floor apartment. Firefighters made entry into the building through severe heat and fire and located a female in a bedroom on the first floor on the east side of the building. She was identified as 47-year-old Karen Colding.
Colding was pronounced dead a short time later. An autopsy is being performed to determine an exact cause of death.
An investigation by the State Fire Marshal, Spencer Fire Department and Spencer police determined the fire originated in a living room area of an apartment on the main floor. They say it appears to have been the result of improperly discarded smoking material that ignited a sofa.
Damage is estimated at 70-thousand dollars.
No other injuries were reported in the blaze.
Those who live in the building have been forced to find other accommodations, as officials say it is uninhabitable.
The Spencer Fire Department was assisted by the Spencer Police Department, Spencer Hospital ambulance, Spencer Municipal Utilities, Aquila, the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Iowa Great Lakes Chapter of the American Red Cross.
