ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say three firefighters have suffered minor injuries while putting out a house fire in northwest Iowa.  Sioux County authorities say the fire was reported about 2:05 p.m. Thursday in Orange City.

Investigators suspect the fire was started by a malfunction in a radiant heat system. The blaze was difficult to battle because it was burning in the house attic.  The residents weren’t home. The three firefighters were taken to Orange City Hospital for treatment and then released.

A head-on crash Thursday night in Harrison County has claimed the life of a Dunlap man. The Iowa State Patrol says 75-year old Rex Rains, of Dunlap, was wearing his seat belt but died from injuries he suffered, at the scene of the crash on Highway 30, about two and one-half miles southwest of Woodbine. Officials say Rains’ 2003 Dodge Neon was traveling west on Highway 30 at around 9:40-p.m., when the car left to the center of the 100-percent ice and snow covered road and into the path of an eastbound 2014 Mack semi, driven by 47-year old Scott Grandstaff, of Omaha. The truck was registered to Farner Bocken, out of Carroll.

After the car and semi collided head-on, both vehicles came to rest in the south ditch of Highway 30. The accident remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol and Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.

No injuries were reported following two separate accidents Thursday afternoon, in Audubon County. The Sheriff’s Department says the first happened at around 12:40-p.m. on Pheasant Avenue, just south of 210th Street, when a 1995 Ford tandem truck pulling a 1976 Puma tandem axle trailer and driven by 59-year old Russell William Murray, of Audubon, went out of control on the ice covered road. The trailer jackknifed and rolled into the west ditch. The trailer broke its hitch and became separated from the truck. Both vehicles were loaded with lime. Damage was estimated at $5,000.

The second accident happened at around 1:30-p.m. and involved vehicles driven by 18-year old David Raymond Ratigan, of Panama and 34-year old Bret James Hildebrand, of Coon Rapids. Sheriff’s officials say both drivers were traveling west on Littlefield Drive, with Hildebrand traveling slowly due to the icy conditions. Ratigan’s 2002 Dodge rear-ended the 2013 Hino van driven by Hildebrand near the intersection with Goldfinch Avenue, causing $4,000 damage altogether.  The van was registered to Prenger Furniture Inc., of Carroll.