116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Crying baby alerts Cedar Rapids family to house fire
UPDATE: A Cedar Rapids couple and their two young children were unharmed during a house fire Friday morning, authorities said.
Firefighters were called around 2:23 a.m. to 1436 M St. SW after Justin Jenney, 25, discovered smoke. He woke up because his 1-year-old daughter was crying.
Crews found the basement full of smoke, and some smoke had reached the first floor of the house. An investigation determined a dehumidifier in the basement was the source of the fire.
Smoke damaged the entire house, and the family was displaced. The American Red Cross was providing assistance.
Fire Department spokesman Greg Buelow said smoke alarms were in the home, but were not working because of dead or missing batteries.
Cedar Rapids firefighters respond to a basement fire at 1436 M St. SW Friday morning. No one was hurt. (Dallas Houtz/The Gazette)
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