Cedar Rapids fatal fire caused by smoking materials

CEDAR RAPIDS — A fatal fire at the Rodeway Inn in Cedar Rapids on Feb. 1 was caused by smoking materials that were in the room, according to the Cedar Rapids Fire Department.

David Ohman, 50, was killed in the fire at 4011 16th Ave. SW, according to his brother, Michael Ohman.

Michael said he was working when he got the message from the mother of David’s children saying that he needed to call her. David’s 26-year-old daughter, Hannah Ohman, who lives in Washington, had gotten a call from the medical examiner, and she informed the rest of the family of his death. David left behind two children — Hannah, and Natan Ohman, 21.

David Ohman was a talented machinist and was certified in multiple types of welding, according to his brother. He was born in North Dakota and raised in Mount Vernon, and spent his adult years living in various states working in welding. He moved back to the Cedar Rapids area a few years ago, but Michael said they hadn’t seen each other much in their adult years.

Both of David and Michael’s parents have already passed away, their mother in 2020 and their father back in 2012.

“It was just basically us two left, and we had a little rough patch between each other, especially being separated so many years,” Michael Ohman said. “It’s just been rough, basically grieving without much of any support except my wife.”

Michael said some of his best memories of his brother are from when they were children and would spend most of their time playing together outside.

“We had really good childhoods. We both skateboarded. We hung out with our friends … We pretty much stayed outdoors until we were called back into the house. Lots of riding bikes around, lots of skateboarding, lots of playing football,” Michael Ohman said.

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