NEWS

Elderly couple escapes burning home

MacKenzie Elmer
melmer@dmreg.com

Two senior citizens escaped a burning home on Hubbell Avenue Friday morning.

Inspector Tedd Jefferson of Des Moines Fire Department said the fire appeared to have started in the basement of the two-story home in the 3700 block of Hubbell Avenue.

Firefighters were called around 8:10 a.m. Smoke permeated the entire home but the actual fire appeared to be contained in the basement, Jefferson said.

Luckily, the two elderly individuals were already standing, unhurt, outside the home once firefighters arrived.

It's unclear how the fire started at this point and it's still under investigation. The house has not been deemed a total loss at this point, said Jefferson.

Traffic was rerouted from the area for a few hours as crews battled the fire. That traffic issue has since cleared up, save for at least one engine, Jefferson said.