Cedar Rapids mobile home fire traced to faulty gas connector

The Cedar Rapids fire department has determined a natural gas leak was likely the cause of a mobile home fire Sunday afternoon.

A news release from Cedar Rapids Fire Department said two people were doing yard work at the Mobile Home Court at 2925 Johnson Ave. NW, Lot 44, when they began to smell something burning. The release said the two, Jayson Candler, 23, and Cindy Burns, 45, also saw black marks around the outside of a vent on the mobile home next door. The release said the pair also saw smoke coming out of the mobile home, and told a neighbor to call 911.

Firefighters arrived at the scene just after 3 p.m. Sunday and saw smoke coming out of the home.

Investigators later determined that the fire started behind the stove after a flexible gas connector, which supplies gas from the supply pipe to the stove, failed. Officials believe the fire started close to the pilot light.

The owner of the home, 71-year-old Mark Yother, was displaced as a result of the damage.

In order to prevent such fires, the department recommends the replacement of old flexible gas connectors after 10 years, the release said.

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