Northwest Cedar Rapids fire displaces three residents

UPDATED:

From the Cedar Rapids Fire Department:

Improper Disposal of Smoking Materials Caused Overnight Fire

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The fire that displaced three occupants from their home at 824 M Avenue NW at approximately 1:30 a.m. this morning has been determined to be unintentional.

An investigation by the Fire Department determined that the fire originated on the back porch when improperly discarded smoking materials ignited combustibles in a plastic trash receptacle.

The fire caused significant fire, heat and smoke damage to the back porch and a bedroom.  There was major smoke damage throughout the entire residence.

The Fire Department reminds citizens of the importance of properly discarding smoking materials like cigarettes and cigars.  If you smoke, use large, deep, non-tip ashtrays to prevent ashes from spilling onto furniture or nearby combustibles.  Ashtrays should be emptied into an airtight metal container.  Warm ashes dumped into trash cans can smolder for hours, and then ignite.  Completely douse cigarette butts and ashes with water before throwing them away.

Cedar Rapids fire fighters are putting out a fire at 824 M ave Tuesday Morning, April 5,2011, in Cedar Rapids. The fire started on the back deck and spread into the attic when fire fighters arrived (Kenny Knutson/SourceMedia Group News)

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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - No one was hurt, but three people were displaced because of an overnight house fire in Cedar Rapids.

Officials said the fire, reported at 1:29 a.m., started near the back porch of the house at 824 M Ave. NW and spread toward the home and into a bedroom. The fire eventually got up to the attic and caught insulation on fire.

A couple who lives in the home, Ryan Firth, 28, and Tara Potts, 27, woke up thinking they were hearing hail near the back porch, but found flames on the porch when they looked outside. The heat broke their bedroom window and smoke flowed into the house.

Firth and Potts woke up a roommate, Chante Harrington, 30, who was sleeping in the front room, and all three escaped out the front door, authorities said.

Firefighters extinguished heavy flames near the porch and back bedroom. Fire Department spokesman Greg Buelow said the area sustained significant fire, heat and smoke damage. Crews had to tear out part of the ceiling to get to the fire that had spread into the attic.

The Grant Wood Chapter of the American Red Cross was on the scene to assist the residents of the house. Investigators were still working to determine a cause.