A house fire in Iowa early Monday morning killed three teenagers and left another in critical condition, authorities said.
Firefighters from the Granville Fire Department responded at around 5 a.m. local time on Sept. 1 to a home on 430th Street, about two miles northwest of Granville, according to local NBC affiliates KTIV and WOWT.
When they arrived, the home was “filled with heavy smoke,” the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.
Inside, firefighters found four people in critical condition. All were taken to hospitals. One victim, 16-year-old Kolten Hofmeyer, died from injuries after being transported to Orange City Area Health.
The other three victims were taken to specialty units at other hospitals for treatment, the sheriff’s office said.
Bryleigh Koob, 16, and Ashton Koob, 17, both died at the hospital. Another victim, a 16-year-old male, remains in critical condition at a Minnesota hospital burn unit.
The Granville Fire Chief and the Iowa State Fire Marshal are investigating the cause of the fire.
After the fire, Sioux County Sheriff Jamie Van Voorst urged the community to come together, according to KTIV.
“We are created for community—for relationships that strengthen and sustain us. I’ve come to you before, Sioux County, to ask that you rally around a hurting and broken family, school, and community, and we are in dire need again,” Van Voorst said.
“In this sad tragedy, there are several families involved and a large community affected. This is heavy, heartbreaking and overwhelming. Please stop and pray with us for everyone affected. Please continue to pray in the upcoming weeks.”
