SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
An early morning house fire claimed the life of a Sioux City man. Sioux City Fire Rescue crews responded to a call about a fire at 2908 Robinson Street just after 2:15 Thursday morning.
Firefighters battled heavy smoke and flames. When they searched the home, they found a male victim near the door and pulled him out of the burning home.
Paramedics performed CPR on him at the scene, then transported him to Mercy Medical Center.
He died from his injuries. Fire officials aren't releasing his name yet. We spoke to a neighbor who said she woke up to a chaotic scene.
"All the fire trucks and everything out here we didn't know what was going on and then we seen the house... phew up in flames," said Sandra Fredericksen, a neighbor.
Fredericksen says she's lived next door to the victim for 15 years.
She said he kept to himself but said he was always friendly.
Fire investigators were on the scene most of the day looking into what started the blaze.
This is Sioux City's first fatal fire in two years. City officials red tagged the home.
No word yet if the home had working smoke detectors but Sioux City's Fire Marshall wanted to remind everyone the importance of checking alarms.
"It's proven they save lives they work. early detection is probably the best thing for you to get out safely if you do have a fire in your home," Mark Aesoph, Fire Marshal said.
He also wanted to remind folks about the 'Safe Home' program.
If you need a smoke detector, call 712-279-6370 and someone from the department will come out and install two free detectors for free.
