Cedar Rapids family loses home, dogs in fire

Fire officials say that the single story house at 1925 20th St. NW is a total loss after a fire ripped through it late Tuesday afternoon.

Firefighters responded to a call for a house fire at around 3:25 p.m. after a neighbor driving by noticed lots of smoke escaping from the home.

Cedar Rapids Fire Department spokesman Greg Buelow said that no one was at home when the fire started. He said that no one was injured but that the neighbor had kicked down the front door in an effort to save the family's two dogs, a golden retriever and a black labrador, which died in the fire.

Red Cross representatives were on scene to provide living assistance to Russell Bowers, 35 and his wife Desiree, 31, and their three children.

Buelow could not say what caused the fire, but doubted crews would be able to recover any property from the house which had been totally consumed.

The fire is still under investigation.