Three injured in apartment fire in Independence

Three people were injured in a fire early Wednesday morning at an apartment building in Independence, according to a press release from the Independence Fire Department.

First responders were called at 12:17 a.m. to the fire, in the 600 block of Second Ave. NE. Independence police officers arrived first and were able to rescue one individual from a window while firefighters were on their way.

A second individual managed to escape the fire on their own but sustained serious injuries.

There was heavy fire coming from the windows of one of the apartment units when firefighters arrived, and they began an attack on the fire and a search of the building, during which they found a third victim with serious injuries.

Firefighters removed the third person from the building and administered emergency lifesaving measures. All three individuals were taken to the Buchanan County Health Center by ambulance, and two of them were later flown to higher-level trauma centers, the release states.

The State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the fire.

“Independence Fire Department was assisted on scene by Jesup Fire Department, Hazleton Fire Department, Oelwein Fire Department, AMR, Jesup Ambulance, MercyOne Ambulance, Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch and Deputies, Independence Police Department, Independence Light & Power, and the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office,” the release states.

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