At least one hurt in house fire in southeast Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS - A woman was hospitalized after a fire ripped through a southeast Cedar Rapids home Friday.

Cedar Rapids firefighters and police responded to 1128 15th St. SE just before noon. Assistant Cedar Rapids Fire Chief Greg Smith said responding crews had information there was someone still in the two-story home. The woman was rescued from the residence and taken to the hospital. Smith said he did not know her condition.

'She was alert and responding to conversation at the hospital,” he said.

One of the residents, Bob Lahue, said it was his wife who was still inside the home. Lehue said he tried to go back in to get his wife after he escaped the home, but wasn't able to. Firefighters were able to rescue her, he said.

'My wife's OK,” he said. 'She's tough.”

Smoke poured out of windows that were broken out of the home and flames were visible across the roof. Smith said three engines, a ladder truck, a rescue vehicle and a command vehicle initially responded to the blaze. A fourth engine company was called out to the scene, Smith said.

Numerous bystanders endured Friday's frigid temperatures to watch as firefighters attacked the fire.

Rick Hard, who lives next door at 1124 15th St., said saw 'flames coming out of the (expletive) front window.”

'They were yelling for a fire extinguisher,” said Hard, who added he went after his fire extinguisher, but couldn't get it off the wall.

Numerous bystanders said four people lived in the residence. Smith said all people who were in the home were accounted for. There were also some pets inside the home. Firefighters provided care to at least one of the pets, who appeared to have recovered.

Curtis and Angel Henderson live about a block away from the residence and said they could see smoke from miles away as they approached.

'I just hope everyone is OK,” Curtis Henderson said.