Couple dead after house fire in western Iowa

ATLANTIC, Iowa (AP) - Authorities say two people have died after fire at a house in the western Iowa city of Atlantic.

Fire Capt. Gene Schmeling tells the Omaha World-Herald (http://bit.ly/1BYgk49 ) that firefighters rescued 57-year-old Denise McDaniel after entering the back of the home. She was flown to an Omaha hospital, where she later died. Schmeling says 57-year-old Paul McDaniel's body was found inside the home.

Schmeling says the fire started just after 10 p.m. Wednesday and was caused by a broken gas line in the basement. Schmeling says clothes hanging from the gas line caused it to break, sparking the fire.

Schmeling says he doesn't know what caused the gas to ignite.

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Information from: KETV-TV, http://www.ketv.com