WATERLOO — Two people are dead after a fire destroyed a rental house Sunday morning.
Waterloo Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Mike Moore said an adult female and a juvenile were found dead on the second floor of the two-story house.
“Three people escaped,” Moore said. “At least two were transported to the hospital, but I don’t know if they’re still there.”
Firefighters were called around 6:30 a.m. to the house at 536 Dawson St. after being alerted by a newspaper carrier.
“When we arrived, the whole front of the house was involved,” Moore said.
Three people climbed out of a second-story window to escape, he said.
Moore said the State Fire Marshal’s Office has been notified. The city fire marshal was on the scene Sunday morning.
The names of the victims were not immediately available. Black Hawk County property records show the house is owned by Anacapa Associates LLC.
Waterloo Fire Chief Pat Treloar said Sunday afternoon that although fire crews arrived in less than four minutes, “the fire had a significant head start before the first 911 call was received.”
Four fire engines, an aerial truck, two ambulances and a command vehicle responded to the fire.
“Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the deceased and injured individuals from this fire,” Treloar said.
It was the second fatal fire in Waterloo in just over a month. A March 15 blaze killed Amber Everman, 33, her son Amari Burkett, 9, and daughter Ava Everman, 5.