A broken gas line is to blame for an explosion and fire in Atlantic late Wednesday night that claimed the life of one person and resulted in serious injuries to another. Firefighters were called to 604 Olive Street (Denise’s Taxi Service) at around 10:08-p.m.  When crews arrived on the scene they knew they had victims trapped. A female victim was found upstairs. The woman was unresponsive and underwent CPR before being transported to the hospital in Atlantic and later flown to a trauma center in Omaha. A male victim was found deceased in the second floor bathroom.

Ric Hanson (photo)

Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees said neighbors told him they heard a loud “boom” prior to noticing the flames. Investigators with the state Fire Marshal’s Office used that information and spent the night combing through the home trying to determine the cause. He says they discovered a natural gas pipe in the basement broke due to the weight of clothes on hangers being hung on the pipe. The ignition source of the explosion is not known, but since a kitchen stove on the first floor is directly above the pipe in the basement, it’s believed the stove may have sparked the explosion.

The Chief said there were numerous combustible materials inside the home which made getting the flames knocked down and the victims found, difficult. When they arrived on the scene, the temperature was around 1 degree above zero. By the time firefighters left at around 3:20-a.m., the temp was down to -11. Atlantic Street Department crews were asked to salt and sand the street in front of the home, as the water used to fight the fire had created extremely icy conditions for pedestrians and motorists alike.

The names of the victims have not yet been released. Atlantic Fire was assisted at the scene by Medivac Ambulance, the Atlantic Police Dept., Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Cass County Emergency Management Agency, Atlantic Municipal Utilities and Alliant Energy crews.

A vehicle authorities say was traveling too fast for road conditions, crashed into a tree Wednesday afternoon, in Red Oak. According to police, 17-year old Gavin French, of Red Oak, was traveling west on east Coolbaugh Street at around 1:50-p.m., when he lost control of the 2000 Mercedes Benz C-230 he was driving on the plowed, but still snow covered road. When vehicle hit a tree in front of 1203 E. Coolbaugh, it sustained $3,600 damage. French told police the vehicles’ traction control device was disabled. No injuries were reported, and no citations were issued.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

ATLANTIC (KJAN) – A fire has claimed the life of a man in Atlantic, and resulted in a woman being critically injured. The blaze at 604 Olive Street was reported at 10:08-p.m., Wednesday. The female victim was flown from Atlantic to another hospital, while the male was found deceased in the home. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. No names have been released.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities at the scene of a freight train derailment in eastern Iowa say 11 cars have derailed, with three of them catching fire and three plunging into the Mississippi River. Dubuque Fire Chief Rick Steines told the Dubuque Telegraph Herald 10 cars which derailed around 11:20 a.m. yesterday were carrying ethanol, some of which spilled into the river.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Wisconsin man has been accused of sexually assaulting a Dubuque woman while she was asleep. The Telegraph Herald reports 19-year-old Patrick J. Hanley of Shullsburg, Wisconsin was arrested Tuesday and charged with third-degree sexual abuse. His bail was set at $30,000.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — The trial of an Iowa woman accused of killing her husband and his girlfriend more than 30 years ago has begun in Waterloo. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier says prosecutors opened the case Wednesday against 54-year-old Theresa Supino, who was arrested in March in connection to the 1983 slayings of Steven Fisher and Melisa Gregory. Their bodies were found on the Copper Dollar Ranch northwest of Newton.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Bakersfield, California running back Sheldon Croney and offensive lineman Jaypee Philbert helped Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads salvage a recruiting class that took some late hits. Five players who had committed to Iowa State changed their minds in recent weeks, but getting Philbert, a 6-foot-4, 305-pounder from Coffeyville, Kansas, Community College, helped ease that sting, as did this week’s commitment from Croney.

The Iowa Dept. of Transportation’s District 3 office in Sioux City report placement of overhead electrical lines will require nighttime closures in both directions on Interstate 29 north of the Floyd Boulevard interchange (exit 147) beginning at 10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, weather permitting.

Traffic will be stopped for 15-minute intervals. Motorists approaching this area should drive with caution and be prepared to stop for traffic backups beyond the limits of the work zone. The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.