116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Tenant charged with removing smoke alarm
Gazette Staff/SourceMedia
Jan. 21, 2011 5:58 am
CEDAR RAPIDS - The resident of the apartment where a fire started on Jan. 4 has been charged with tampering with fire equipment after officials said she removed the smoke alarm in her unit.
The Cedar Rapids Fire Department said the fire at 433 Fourth Ave. SW began when resident Susan Heins, 35, fell asleep with a cigarette burning.
She and all of her neighbors were displaced from the building by the resulting fire. Five other adults and two children escaped the blaze safely.
Smoke alarms are required to be installed in rental properties, and it's illegal for tenants to disable or remove them.
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