Cedar Rapids firefighters respond to brush fire at Beverly Gardens park

The Cedar Rapids Fire Department is working to finish suppressing a tree debris and brush pile fire that has been burning since Tuesday morning at Beverly Gardens Park in southeast Cedar Rapids.

Firefighters were called to the park, in the 4900 block of Edgewood Road SW, at 11:22 a.m. Tuesday, and had the fire controlled by 12:40 p.m. the same day, though parts of the debris are still smoldering, according to a Wednesday morning press release from the fire department.

“Debris on the burning pile was up to 15-feet high and the immediate area around it is shredded mulch three to four feet deep,” the release states. “Following initial fire suppression efforts, the burning pile and surrounding mulch continue to smolder and may do so for an extended period of time.”

Fire departments from several neighboring communities helped from several hours with suppression efforts, and several thousand gallons of water have been dispersed over the fire. Parks and recreation and public works staff also worked with their equipment to separate burned and unburned material to stop the spread of the fire, according to the release.

A visible column of smoke still is rising from the area as of Wednesday morning, and city crews from multiple departments are working to break the pile up in order to reveal remaining hot spots, while Cedar Rapids and Fairfax Fire Department crews continue applying water.

The cause of the fire is yet undetermined, the release states.

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