Cedar Rapids house fire ruled unintentional

CEDAR RAPIDS - Fire officials have determined that frying fish led to a blaze that damaged a home in the 900 block of E Ave. NW in Cedar Rapids.

Firefighters were called to 922 E Ave. NW around 11 p.m. Saturday, according to a news release from the Cedar Rapids Fire Department. On Monday, officials said they have determined the fire was unintentional and caused by fish frying in oil. Fire officials initially said the smoke detectors in the two-story, single-family home were found to be not working, but on Monday officials said the second floor smoke detectors were in alarm mode and that it is possible the first floor smoke detectors were damaged and made inoperable by the fire.

No one was injured in the fire, and the American Red Cross responded to aid the displaced residents, Paula and Shawn Kelly and their two children, ages 19 and 14. The family also has two dogs and was renting the home.

Paula Kelly said at the time of the fire, her husband and her brother had been cooking fish they caught that day. Her son, 19, also was home at the time of the fire.

'Within a few minutes of it catching fire we were out of the house,” she said. 'My husband was cooking fish and I was getting ready for bed. I came down the back steps and by then the ceiling in the kitchen was on fire.”

Paula Kelly said the Red Cross provided funds to pay for a hotel for two nights, food and some incidentals. She said The Salvation Army is paying for a hotel for two additional nights.

Beyond that, she said the couple's landlord, Bob Tietke, is allowing the family to move into another home he owns.

'I have a great landlord,” Paula Kelly said.

She said, so far, she's been able to salvage the dining room table and some clothes.

'We're just trying to go piece by piece and get as much as we can,” she said.