Ames Tribune
BOXHOLM, Iowa — An early Sunday morning house fire in Boxholm took the lives of one adult and three children, officials said.
Nine fire departments responded to the fire, which was reported shortly before 1 a.m. at 204 Beech St. When authorities arrived, the back of the house was fully engulfed in flames. They tried to enter the house, but were unable to due to thick smoke, according to a Boone County Sheriff’s Office press release.
Amber Sorenson, 27, and her three children, Riley, 9, Autumn, 6, and Brayden, 4, died in the fire. Amber’s husband, John, was at work when the fire occurred, according to Boxholm Fire Chief Dave Huffman. A GoFundMe account has been set up for the Sorenson family, and as of mid-day Sunday, more than $11,000 had been raised. Contributions to the Sorenson family can be made at www.gofundme.com/78jwcg7x.
Firefighters were faced with sub-zero temperatures and freezing equipment as they battled the blaze. Iowa Highway 169 had to be closed for a period of time, but has since re-opened.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Boxholm Fire Department and the State Fire Marshall. Huffman said, based on preliminary investigation, it is believed the fire was caused by a space heater that was located in a three season room on the west side of the house on the first floor. The space heater was being used to keep pet rabbits warm.
The Boxholm Fire Department was assisted by the Boone, Dayton, Gowrie, Grand Junction, Lehigh, Ogden, Paton and Pilot Mound fire departments. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office, Boone County Emergency Management, Boone County Hospital and Boone County Search and Rescue also responded.
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