OSKALOOSA, IOWA -- An early fire in the frigid hours of Thursday morning leaves one woman dead.
The Oskaloosa Fire Department received a call at 3:49 a.m. to a house on North A Street. They were on the scene just minutes later, but the home was already engulfed in flames, with smoke and fire coming out both the downstairs and upstairs windows.
Oskaloosa Fire Chief Mark Neff told KTVO that by the time the department arrived, the fire was too dangerous to attempt rescue.
The department released the name of the victim Friday morning, 42-year-old Kathy Edgington perished in the fire. Her mother, Helen, escaped unharmed.
Chief Neff said the investigation into the fire has concluded and the cause has been ruled an accident. He said the damage to the home is too severe to determine exactly what started the blaze, but there is no reason to suspect malicious intent.
Edgington's autopsy was scheduled for Friday morning.
The New Sharon Fire Department and the State Fire Marshall's Office also responded to the fire.
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