Early Morning Fire Destroys Cedar Rapids Business

[UPDATE] An investigation by the Fire Department has determined that the fire was intentionally set. The investigation is still active and investigators are continuing to work on several leads about the incident. Anyone with information about this fire is encouraged to contact the Fire Department at (319) 286-5200.

Cedar Rapids firefighters were called to douse a blaze at Duchess Cleaners on Center Point Road early this morning.

Authorities were alerted to the fire at 4:56 a.m. and describes the building as a "total loss" after fighting the inferno for about an hour, the Gazette reported.

According to a news release, first arriving crews of the Cedar Rapids Fire Department found Duchess Cleaners with heavy fire showing from the front of the structure upon arrival this morning.

The size of the fire required firefighters to use large hose lines and an elevated master stream to soak the flaming, smoking structure.

Officials said the building at 3905 Center Point Road NE was pretty much destroyed but luckily no one was in the building at the time of the fire.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

[source: Gazette]

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