Missing Cedar Rapids fire tenant says she's safe

The woman being sought by investigators in the wake of an apartment fire on Cedar Rapids' southwest side says she escaped without serious injury.

Eight people managed to escape the fire at 433 Fourth Ave. SW Tuesday afternoon. The fire started in an apartment on the second floor of the building.

Susan Heins, 35, is the tenant of that apartment. Neighbors and firefighters reported seeing Heins when they arrived on scene, but after a head count, they realized she'd left the area. Officials have been trying to locate her since the fire.

In a phone interview, Heins says she fell asleep with a cigarette in her hand and believes that may have caused the fire.  She says she suffered minor burns on her hands, but didn't get treated for the injuries.

She says she left the scene after the fire because she didn't have a lot of clothes on and it was cold.  She says she plans to call the fire department later today.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.