Firefighter injured responding to house fire in Cedar Rapids

A firefighter was injured at the scene of a house fire at 5330 Harbet Ave. NW Wednesday afternoon.

Fire Captain Mike Fredericks said that firefighter Eric Vandewater fell and injured his ankle in the home and was taken by ambulance to St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids.

The fire started at around 3 p.m. and spread to the garage and the kitchen on the first floor of the home. Fredericks said that the whole house sustained smoke damage, but that the fire damage was contained to the kitchen and garage. He also said that Tracey Carney, one of the homeowners, was inside when the fire started and was able to get herself and her pets out of the house without injury.

West Point Road was closed from Kessler Road and Holly Avenue while crews were on scene.

Fredericks said the cause of the fire is still under investigation and that Carney and her family will be spending the night with relatives until their house is fully ventilated.

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