Cedar Rapids firefighter injured in 30-foot fall

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids firefighter was injured Friday morning while responding to a fire at the former Diamond V Mills plant on Friday morning.

Firefighters were called to the fire are the building, 436 G Ave. NW, at 6:19 a.m., according to a news release from the Cedar Rapids Fire Department.

People were evacuating the building when firefighters arrived, and a rapid search team entered to look for anyone still inside while other firefighters turned hose lines on the fire.

During the search, a firefighter — who officials did not identify — fell about 30 feet. The firefighter was located and taken to a hospital with serious, but not life-threatening injuries, the release stated.

No one else was located during the search, and no other injuries were reported.

The fire was extinguished by 7:48 a.m. The cause of the fire still is under investigation, according to the release.

The release said the building was “placarded by the city” on June 26.

That happens when a building has unresolved code violations, and often means it is not safe to enter. The only people allowed to enter the building were those authorized to conduct maintenance or official business, the release states.

Diamond V operates a facility in southwest Cedar Rapids. The company’s former location in northwest Cedar Rapids is owned by Cedar Rapids Development Group, according to city assessor records.

Marion and Hiawatha fire departments also responded to the blaze, as did Area Ambulance and private utilities companies, the news release stated.

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