Man escapes house fire in SW Cedar Rapids; dog does not

CEDAR RAPIDS - Firefighters responded to a residence in southwest Cedar Rapids on Tuesday morning after a caller alerted emergency dispatchers that the house next door was on fire.

When firefighters arrived at the home, in the 3300 block of Carriage Drive SW, flames were coming from the basement window at the rear of the residence, according to the fire department.

The department said a man was in the home when the blaze erupted. He escaped unharmed. His dog, however, died in the fire.

Firefighters said the residence sustained significant fire and heat damage to the basement and the floor above, making the structure unsafe to inhabit. Smoke damage was spread throughout the house.

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