A space heater caused a house fire in rural Keswick where seven dogs perished. According to Keokuk County Dispatch, at 10:56 p.m. Wednesday they received a call of a house fire with visible flames. When fire crews arrived the house was fully engulfed with flames. Firefighters from Sigourney, Keswick, and What Cheer were able to extinguish the flames and were able to clear the scene before 2 a.m. Thursday morning. According to Sigourney Fire and Rescue, the fire was started by a space heater, the fourth such fire they’ve seen this winter.

The house was occupied only by eight dogs, one of them being recovered outside and was reunited with the family. No people were injured. The sheriff’s office and ambulance from Keokuk County were also at the scene.