(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – Officials with the Adair/Guthrie County Emergency Management Agency, this (Tuesday) evening, released details about a fatal fire that occurred earlier in the day. EMA Coordinator Jeremy Cooper said in a press release, that at around 9:20-a.m., the Guthrie County Communications Center dispatched a simultaneous page for Menlo Fire and Stuart Fire and Rescue for a possible house fire in the 400 block of 3rd Street, in Menlo.

A Menlo firefighter and truck arrived on the scene several minutes later and confirmed there was smoke showing from the residence, and that there was an active fire. As the firefighter walked around the structure assessing the structure and situation, he was met by neighboring people who told him there may be someone inside the home. As he performed a walk around of the structure, the firefighter banged on the windows and side of the house to see if he could get the attention of anyone inside the home or hear any voices from inside the residence.

The Stuart Fire Dept. arrived on the scene at around 9:35-a.m. and found heavy smoke coming from the eaves of the home and flames bursting out the peak of the west gable wall above an attached garage. Stuart Fire initiated a quick interior attack with a search team, and within minutes, found the body of a 73-year-old woman at the end of a hallway, about 16-feet from an exit. Medical crews responded at around 9:45-a.m., and requested an air ambulance, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

EMA Coordinator Jeremy Cooper said it appears that the fire was burning for a while, prior to the 911 call, as a portion of the floor burned through, and furniture was falling into the basement. He said the fire appears to have started in the northwest corner of the home’s living room area, as that was where extensive fire damage was located. Cooper said “Menlo and Stuart Fire crews did an amazing job and quickly responded to the fire, unfortunately a life was lost today, and that always weighs heavy on our first responders.

“They not only battled the flames and cold,” he said, “but also their emotions as most people in small communities as Menlo know everyone and have a connection with each other.” The cause of the fire remains under investigation, as the State Fire Marshal’s Office was on the scene working the investigation (late Tuesday). The unidentified victim was transported to the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny, to determine the cause of her death.

Agencies on the scene included: Menlo Fire; Stuart Fire; Stuart Rescue; Dexter Fire; Casey Fire; the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office; Stuart Police, and the Adair & Guthrie County EMA.