Officials know where Cedar Rapids fire started, but not why

Investigators continue to search for the source of a smoky fire that apparently overtook a Cedar Rapids woman on Tuesday.

Cynthia Wiseman, 56, was rescued by firefighters from her burning mobile home at 2506 Canyon St. SW. She was talking at the scene, and was later transferred to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for smoke inhalation. Her condition was not known.

Fire Department spokesman Greg Buelow said the fire started in the living room and burned laundry, carpet, paper and an aquarium cabinet. The cause has not been determined.

The first firefighters to arrive looked in a bedroom for Wiseman, based on information from people on the scene, Buelow said. A second group of firefighters arrived and found Wiseman on the kitchen floor.

The smoke led to zero visibility in the mobile home. Buelow said she had been exposed to the smoke for several minutes.

“She was in the fire for quite a period of time, so she's going to have some elevated carbon monoxide levels,” Buelow said.

A neighbor who had come over to walk Wiseman's dog reported the fire when she saw smoke. Buelow said the dog was actually not in the home and was with Wiseman's daughter.

“A lot of times with these situations, it's a matter of a couple minutes either way, and the outcome can be different,” Buelow said.

Buelow said smoke alarms in the mobile home had been disabled.