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Des Moines Fire Department: Woman killed in house fire Sunday

Investigators say a space heater had been found in the home's basement surrounded by blankets and could have been the cause of the fire.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Officials in Des Moines say a woman has died in a house fire. 

The fire was reported Sunday evening by a neighbor in a residential area between the city's Union Park and Fairmont Park neighborhoods. Arriving firefighters learned that a man and his mother had been in the house when the fire broke out. 

The man was able to escape but told firefighters his mother was trapped inside. Firefighters were hindered by flames, but found the woman about 20 minutes later inside the burning home. 

She did not survive. Officials have not released the woman's name. 

Investigators later said a space heater had been found in the home's basement surrounded by blankets and could have been the cause of the fire.

Local 5 will update this story as more information becomes available.

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