Firefighters extinguish blaze at southwest Cedar Rapids home

CEDAR RAPIDS - Officials are investigating the cause of a house fire in southwest Cedar Rapids that displaced two residents.

Cedar Rapids Fire Department spokesman Greg Buelow said officials received a call at 4:19 p.m. Tuesday of smoke coming from a two story, two family conversion home at 1011 1st Ave. SW. When crews arrived at the back of the house, they saw smoke coming from a second floor window.

The first firefighters on the scene of the blaze forcibly entered the home through the back door, Buelow said. Crews determined the fire started near the back of the home on the second floor and quickly knocked down the flames.

Though Buelow said the house isn't a total loss, parts sustained fire damage and the entire home experienced smoke damage. The home's utilities were shut off and, therefore, the occupants could not safely re-enter it.

A fire marshal was on scene investigating the cause of the fire and Buelow said he couldn't say whether the fire involved a human element.

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