Discarded cigarettes sparked destructive Cedar Rapids fire

Cigarettes sparked a fire that left heavy damage to a northeast Cedar Rapids home Tuesday, officials said.

No one was injured in the blaze at 6702 Arbor Ln. NE, which was reported around 5:30 p.m. Firefighters said tenant David Ehlert, 45, and three young children escaped when they discovered flames on the back side of the house.

Investigator Al Brockhohn, of the Cedar Rapids Fire Department, said the fire originated in plastic trash cans behind the house, where Ehlert said he had been smoking.

Ehlert's roommate, Beth Gudenkauf, 42, and her teenage daughter, who also live in the rental house, were not home when the fire broke out, neighbors said. The young children were staying there for daycare, according to Battalion Chief Brian Gibson.

"(Ehlert) was in the kitchen preparing food for the kids when he saw a flicker outside," Brockhohn said.

Firefighters said the fire extended from the trash cans to a deck, into the kitchen, and caused heavy damage on the back side of the house. Radiant heat did some minor damage to a nearby garage and vehicle inside.

Firefighters rescued a dog from the burning house, and taken to a veterinarian, where it was expected to be OK.

"The damage is extensive, so they'll be displaced for some time," Brockhohn said.

The house is owned by Timothy Terry, according to the online city assessor's records.

[mqMap showScale="true" key="oXEoUMaH" width="485" height="440" src="http://www.mapquest.com/embed?icid=mqdist_mb_wp&c=oXEoUMaH&maptype=map&zm=16&cr=42.045295043674,-91.66174084655763&projection=sm&showScale=true"/>