Electric stove cited as cause of Cedar Rapids apartment fire

UPDATED: An electric stove burner left on ignited a fire that damaged an apartment building and displaced one person Monday morning in Cedar Rapids.

No one was hurt in the fire, which was reported just before 6 a.m. at Tradewinds Apartments, 5537 North Towne Pl. NE. Firefighters contained the fire damage to one apartment, although three adjacent units had minor smoke damage, fire department spokesman Greg Buelow said.

Buelow said the tenant left a burner on when he went to work Monday morning.  The burner ignited materials nearby.

The first firefighters to arrive found smoke coming from apartment No. 1. Once inside, they discovered flames along the ceiling of the kitchen area. No one was inside.

Travis Cook, 40, who lives in the apartment, had left for work but returned while firefighters were on the scene. Authorities said he would be displaced due to the damage. The Grant Wood Chapter of the American Red Cross was providing assistance.

Five people were evacuated from nearby apartments for about 45 minutes, Buelow said.

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