Truck at center of Cedar Rapids fire was subject to recall for fire danger

UPDATE: Authorities say a pickup that caught fire late Wednesday, destroying a garage and damaging a home in northwest Cedar Rapids, was subject to an open recall for fire danger.

The fire, which started in the engine compartment on the driver's side of the 1999 Ford F-150 and was reported around 11 p.m. Wednesday, was traced to the area of the speed control system.

The Vehicle Identification Number was found and fire investigators found that there is an open recall on the truck.

The massive recall, announced by the Ford Motor Company in September 2005, applied to more than 10 million vehicles overall, including F-150 trucks built from 1994 to 2002. It was launched to correct an issue that potentially could cause the truck's cruise control deactivation switch to overheat and create a fire under the hood.

Authorities said the  family of five will stay with neighbors after the fire. Neighbors pounded on the front door to alert the family when the pickup in the driveway caught fire, eventually spreading to the house and attached garage.

No injuries were reported in the blaze, authorities said.

Fire Department spokesman Greg Buelow said the pickup, the garage and the side of the house was on fire when crews arrived. He said firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading into the house, and the only damage inside was smoke-related.

Buelow said firefighters needed to pull down some parts of the ceiling and walls to make sure the fire did not spread, however.

The home is owned by Brian Gardner, 32, and Erin Gardner, 30. They and their three children, ranging in age from 9 months to 10 years old, were awakened by neighbors and got out of the house safely, officials said.

The pickup and garage were destroyed, officials said.

Buelow said utilities were disconnected from the house to prevent any secondary fire issues.