High Property Management back in business after fire

CEDAR RAPIDS — The owner and founder of High Property Management said his company is already back up and running, less than 24 hours after their home offices were gutted by a devastating fire.

Darryl High said his company reopened for business Friday morning in a satellite location at 5741 C St. SW, Suite C. Just as importantly, High said vital documents — including leases, files on tenants and financial information — had been successfully backed up off-site in Minneapolis.

'There's no worry for any resident,' High said.

On Thursday, a morning two-alarm fire thoroughly damaged High Property Management's offices at 1100 Old Marion Road NE. According to the fire department, the call went out at 6:22 a.m. after the company's facilities director responded to an alarm at the building and saw smoke. The employee called the fire department when he realized the smoke inside was too thick for him to find the origin of the blaze.

Greg Buelow, the city's public safety spokesman, said crews attempted to fight the fire from inside the building, but were forced to retreat to a defensive approach when the structural integrity of the building came into question.

The fire was directly above the building's shop area, where maintenance workers stored their inventory. It was also near the company's servers.

Buelow said the building was likely a total loss. While High conceded there is 'significant damage' to the building, he said they are committed to returning to their former location.

'We don't feel like it's a total loss,' High said. 'There's going to be substantial renovation to the office ... That's our home base and will be as long as I'm on this planet.'

High said they will work to maintain the unique pyramid structure that adorns the front of the building.

While he said he's not 'a very emotional guy' High said he was moved by the outpouring of support he received in the hours after the fire.

'It just goes to show you what a quality business community we have,' he said.

High said High Property Management can still be reached at 363-3900 and on their website at www.highpm.com.