Southwest Cedar Rapids home fire considered suspicious

CEDAR RAPIDS- A Cedar Rapids arson investigator has now determined arson was definitely the cause of an early morning fire at a flood-damaged home.

No one was injured in the blaze at 505 Ninth St. SW, reported around 6:25 a.m. Thursday when a neighbor saw smoke and flames. More than two dozen firefighters eventually arrived on the scene in six fire trucks.

Acting Fire Capt. Brent Smith said police notified fire officials that a homeless person had possibly been using the vacant house for shelter.

"We had life-safety possibility to take care of when we first got here," Smith said. "We wanted to make sure that homeless person wasn't in there."

Firefighters got the flames knocked down and searched for victims, but no one was found. The fire burned a hole through the second floor and spread into the attic, so officials decided to evacuate the house and battle the fire from the outside, Smith said.

Battalion Chief Dan Dall said the fire originated in an interior room on the first floor and spread from there. He said utilities were disconnected from the house.

Greg Buelow, a fire department spokesperson, said an arson investigator found a mattress and some candles inside the abandoned home that is on a demolition list.  Buelow said that indicates someone was inside and may have lit a fire to try and keep warm.

Buelow said even if the fire started accidentally it would still be considered an arson case because the person who was inside was trespassing.

Buelow said this is the 26th intentionally set fire in either a flood-damaged home or outbuilding since the flood of 2008.  The most recent arson case occurred last spring.

The fire spokesperson said such fires are a danger to anyone inside the home as well as firefighters who have to respond.  Buelow said he hoped neighbors would alert authorities to anyone they see inside an abandoned or placarded residence illegally.

The number of arson cases involving flood damaged property was much more frequent closer to June of 2008.  Buelow said the city has demolished about 800 damaged homes purchased through buyouts that were not candidates for repair.

A best estimate now is about 300 remain standing in the one-time flood zones.

Two neighbors said the house had been vacant since the historic flood of 2008.

Fifth Avenue SW and other side streets were blocked for more than two hours while crews worked at the scene.

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