(Mount Ayr, IA) – The Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office today (Feb. 13th), issued a report on an investigation into a fatal fire that occurred Saturday, Feb. 7th, in rural Clearfield. The report stated multiple fire departments and the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a house fire at 1665 110th Avenue at around 2:17-p.m. on Feb. 7th. First responders were met with a fire that had fully engulfed the single-family home. They found a man suffering from “thermal injuries,” and inside the home, a deceased woman. The woman was identified as 78-year-old Deborah Scott, a resident of the home.

An initial investigation by the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office, State Fire Marshal’s Office, and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation determined the fire was the result of an accident. Foul play is not suspected.

Sheriff’s officials thanked the following fire departments for their assistance:

• Lenox
• Clearfield
• Diagonal
• Mount Ayr
• Kellerton
• Blockton
• Prescott, and
• Bedford.

They paid special recognition to the many Diagonal firefighters’ spouses for provided the food and drinks for crews, as they battled the house fire.