01/27/2023
The Council Bluffs Fire Department identified the victim in Wednesday's deadly house fire as 70-year-old Gary Edison.
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A body was discovered after a house fire in Council Bluffs.
When firefighters arrived at the home on Blackhawk Street Wednesday night, they found smoke and flames.
Firefighters had been alerted someone might be inside. During a search, they found a man and a dog. Both had died.
Neighbors tried to help before firefighters got there.
"I wanted to help, and I couldn't get in, because the flames were so bad.... engulfed, the fire ... and I couldn't — I couldn't go through the windows. Because I could've died,” said Tarra Webster, a neighbor who tried to rescue the man. “I tried to help him as best I could, (but) I couldn't."
Tara said she broke windows to try to get the man out but said she almost had an asthma attack and couldn't find him due to the smoke.
She described him as a wonderful man and a great neighbor.
"He was a great guy, he was grandpa for me,” said Webster. “We'd help him a lot. We'd give him hot meals or we'd help plant his plants. You know, just coming out and talking to him was a great thing — he was a great person. He would talk to everybody and anybody."
The Council Bluffs Fire Department is investigating the cause and will confirm the identity after an autopsy.
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One person was found dead after a Wednesday night structure fire in Council Bluffs on Blackhawk Street.
Here's what we know:
The Council Bluffs Fire Department was dispatched to a fire around 8:50 p.m.
According to Council Bluffs Fire, while responding, crews were given information that there was possibly a person trapped inside.
Fire crews arrived to fire and smoke coming from the house and quickly entered the house and conducted a search, said Council Bluffs Fire.
During the search, crews located a male and found that he was deceased. A dog was also found deceased.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Council Bluffs Fire Marshal's Office and the identity of the deceased will be confirmed during an autopsy.
Updates will be given as more information becomes available.
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