DES MOINES FIRE DEPARTMENT
Media Release May 8, 2003
House Fire Claims the Life of a Des Moines Man.
Des Moines firefighters responded to a 911 call from a city employee cleaning the streets who reported a house on fire at 756 20th Street, Des Moines, Iowa at 2:19 AM.
First arriving firefighters reported light smoke coming from the roof area of the single family dwelling. A Second Alarm was immediately dispatched to the scene.
Firefighters made entry into the home and found smoke and flames in the basement and main floor bedroom areas. While searching throughout the home, firefighters found an occupant behind a closed bathroom door. Firefighters quickly removed the occupant to the outside; however, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim - Joel Lambert - DOB: 10-28-1962 - was the only occupant of this residence.
Firefighters extinguished the fire without difficulty.
Fire Investigators were called to the scene. Senior Fire Investigator, Dave Knutzen, reported the following:
"The fire appears to have started in the basement or in the main floor bedroom."
"The home had one smoke detector, but it did not have a battery in it."
"The cause of this fire has not yet been determined. It does not appear suspicious in nature at this time."
Knutzen estimated the damages to the home at $20,000,
An autopsy is being performed this morning by the Polk County Medical Examiner's Office to determine the victim's cause of death.
Linda Frangenberg, Lieutenant DMFD
