Fatal Fire Near Granville
(Update) An early morning fire on Monday (September 1) has resulted in three deaths.
At about 5 a.m. Monday, the Granville Fire and EMS Fire Department responded to a 9-1-1 report of a residential fire that occurred at a residence on 430th Street, two and one-half miles northwest of Granville.
Upon arrival at the location, the residence was filled with heavy smoke.
Fire personnel discovered four persons inside the residence in critical condition; they were transported by ambulance services to Orange City Area Health where Kolten Hofmeyer, age 17, of Alton, died as a result of injuries sustained in the fire. Three other victims were flown to specialty units at other hospitals for further treatment where Bryleigh Koob, age 16, and Ashton Koob, age 17, both of Granville, died as a result of their injuries. A third victim, a 16 year old male of Alton, IA, remains in critical condition at a hospital burn unit in Minnesota.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Granville Fire Chief in conjunction with the Iowa State Fire Marshal.
The Granville Fire Department was assisted by the the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, Hospers Fire Department, and ambulance services of Alton, Orange City, Granville, Hospers, Paullina and Sheldon.
MOC-Floyd Valley Community School District faculty and staff along with clergy and pastoral support from area churches will be available throughout this week for anyone connected to or affected by this tragic event.
Sioux County Sherriff Jamie Van Voorst in a press release stated…”We are created for community—for relationships that strengthen and sustain us. I’ve come to you before, Sioux County, to ask that you rally around a hurting and broken family, school, and community and we are in dire need again. In this sad tragedy, there are several families involved and a large community affected. This is heavy, heartbreaking and overwhelming. Please stop and pray with us for everyone affected by this. Please continue to pray in the upcoming weeks.”
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