Firefighters found her sleeping on the first floor while a fire was burning in the second floor and attic of the house on Seventh Avenue North, Fire Chief Steve Hergenreter said. The woman was taken to UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center.

The fire at 1401 Seventh Ave. N. was reported at 3:30 a.m.

When firefighters arrived, flames were coming out of the second floor windows in the front and on the west side.

Neighbors told firefighters the house was vacant, but that they had seen people going in and out since the summer, according to Hergenreter. Firefighters began a search and rescue effort while attacking the fire on the second floor.

-Submitted photo
Fort Dodge firefighters work at the scene of a fire early Sunday morning at 1401 Seventh Ave. N. One woman was rescued from the home.

The woman who was found in the house told firefighters that there could be somebody else inside, Hergenreter said. He said additional searches were conducted, but no one else was found.

The house sustained heavy fire damage to the second floor and attic, and smoke damage throughout the rest of the building.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The house, which was built in 1891, is owned by Kerry C. Coleman, of Clare, according to online records of the Webster County Assessor’s Office.

Coleman stated that the house has been vacant for four years and had no electrical or gas service, according to Hergenreter.

Off-duty firefighters were called in to work at the scene, and to be available if any other emergencies happened. Fort Dodge police also responded.