Press Release
April 20, 2020
Update on Friday 4/17/20 Fire at 1527 Grove Street
At 6:22 PM Friday April 17, 2020 a neighbor reported smoke coming from a house at 1527 Grove Street in Burlington. The Burlington Fire Department responded and arrived at 6:25 PM to find a fire in the kitchen of the small single story wood frame home. While conducting a search of the house, firefighters found an unconscious adult female. The female, 65 year old Patricia Gray, was treated at the scene by fire department paramedics and taken to Great River Medical Center in West Burlington. Ms. Gray was later transferred to the University Hospitals in Iowa City where she died on Saturday April 18, 2020 due to smoke inhalation suffered as a result of the house fire.
Fire investigators have determined an area of origin for the fire but the cause is undetermined. The fire is not considered suspicious. The house did have working smoke alarms. The fire was considered fully extinguished by 7:05 PM. Damage is estimated to be $30,000 to the structure and $15,000 to contents and the house is insured. Three dogs also perished as a result of the fire. The Red Cross has been called to assist the family.
The Burlington Police and Fire Departments along with agents with the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office conducted the investigation.
9 on-duty Burlington firefighters responded to the fire and were assisted by 6 West Burlington firefighters responding on automatic aid. The Burlington Police Department, Superior Ambulance, and Alliant Energy also assisted at the scene. Firefighters remained on the scene until 11:18 PM. There were no other injuries.
Mark Crooks, Fire Marshal