Firefighters from five eastern Iowa cities responded to a large fire Tuesday at a building that houses businesses and apartments in North Liberty. No one was injured, but several adults and children are receiving help from the Red Cross after losing most of the possessions in the fire.
Megan Andersen lives in a neighboring building and called 911 when she noticed flames coming from the back of the Beaver Kreek Center. “I saw flames coming out of the apartment through the screen door and onto the deck. (The flames) were starting to come up and onto the roof,” Andersen said.
North Liberty Fire Captain Craig Voparil said crews arrived on the scene around 4:45 p.m. “We saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the rear of the building,” Voparil said. Fire crews from Iowa City, Coralville, Solon and Tiffin also responded to the fire. Laura Kingery lives in the building and is hoping she’ll be able to salvage some of her belongings.
“It might be wishful thinking, but hopefully I’ll be able to get something,” Kingery said. Voparil said investigators returned to the scene this morning and have not yet determined a cause for the fire.
By Addison Speck, KCRG-TV, Cedar Rapids