116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Bird's nest may have fueled Cedar Rapids chimney fire
Firefighters found a bird's nest alongside a chimney that might have provided fuel for a Cedar Rapids fire early this afternoon.
Fire crews went to 246 Sussex Dr. NE around 12:45 p.m. when a neighbor called 911. The first crew to arrive found some charring on the exterior of the house, near the chimney.
No one was home at the residence when the fire started.
Battalion Chief Greg Smith said crews tore through the exterior of the house to look for fire, because they could not access the area from inside the house.
Smith said it didn't appear there had been a fire in the basement fireplace in at least a few hours.
Crews were continuing to check for hot spots.
Firefighters check for hot spots along a chimney at 246 Sussex Dr. NE Monday afternoon. A bird's nest was found along the chimney and may have been a contributing factor in the fire. (Jeff Raasch/The Gazette)
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