Smoldering cigarettes sparked Cedar Rapids condo fire

Smoldering cigarettes caused the fire that left a dozen condominium residents homeless early Saturday, an investigation has determined.

The cigarettes were left in a clay flower pot on a back deck at 5805 Muirfield Dr. SW, fire department spokesman Greg Buelow said. The cigarettes burned freely until the resulting blaze spread to a nearby wall, where it was fed by vinyl siding as it extended to the soffit.

Firefighters were called to the scene a few minutes before 5 a.m. Saturday. They arrived to find flames across the rear of the two-story, four-unit building. The fire had already extended to the soffit and roof of the structure, which was declared a total loss.

There were no injuries, but 12 occupants were displaced, according to Buelow.

"The fire department reminds citizens of the importance of ensuring that smoking materials are completely extinguished," Buelow wrote in an email.  "The container should contain water or sand to minimize the possibility of fire spread."

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