Electric blanket blamed for Wilson Ave. condo fire

CEDAR RAPIDS - An electric blanket is to blame for a condominium fire early Wednesday morning.

According to Cedar Rapids public safety spokesman Greg Buelow, fire crews were called to a condominium fire at 3120 Wilson Ave. SW at 3 a.m. Wednesday. Responding firefighters encountered flames coming from a bedroom window of the three-story structure.

Firefighters entered until 12 of the condo and contained the fire to the bedroom and exterior of the unit, Buelow said. The bedroom sustained significant fire, heat and smoke damage and the rest of the unit sustained smoke and heat damage.

Buelow said the resident of the condo was able to escape without injury and residents of the 11 other units were also evacuated. Several other units sustained smoke damage, but there were no injuries reported.

Firefighters determined the fire started when an electric blanket that had been rolled up and covered by clothing and other materials was accidentally turned on.

The Grant Wood Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting displaced residents.