Fire breaks out at Cedar Rapids apartment building

UPDATE: No one was hurt when fire broke out inside a southeast Cedar Rapids apartment building Tuesday.

Firefighters were called around 9:45 a.m. to 909 28th St. SE and found smoke coming from the six-unit structure.

Fire Department spokesman Greg Buelow said eight people, including a baby, were evacuated.

The fire was contained to unit No. 2 on the first floor, where it damaged a mattress and box springs, officials said. Smoke damaged the stairwell and the ceiling of an a neighbor's apartment.

No smoke detectors were working in the apartment building, Buelow said. Fire officials have been able to confirm working smoke detectors in only 28 percent of Cedar Rapids fires this year, he said.

“We're playing with danger, especially as we get closer to winter when we typically have an uptick in fires,” Buelow said.

An investigation was under way to determine what caused Tuesday's fire.

Buelow said the resident of the damaged apartment, identified as Jerome Strong, would be displaced. The American Red Cross was called to assist.