Cedar Rapids Fire Department spokesman Greg Buelow says it appears arson is to blame for four separate fires at two apartment complexes over the weekend. The fires, on the city’s northeast side, all involved damage to doors or carpeting.
“At this point, we suspect they were intentionally set,” Buelow said. “There’s no reason why the carpeting or the wreath on the door would set on fire unless there was some human element, so they are being treated as arson.”
Fire crews were sent to both apartment complexes shortly after 2 p.m. Saturday. No one has been arrested and no one was injured. All four fires were contained before any structural damage was done.
“It wasn’t severe damage and they can be fixed fairly easily. However, the fact that these were set, they could’ve got out of control and there were people in these complexes make it especially dangerous,” Buelow said.
Investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect or suspects.