Photo: Iowa's News Now
(Cedar Rapids, IA) -- Cedar Rapids Fire Investigators have determined the cause of the Geneva Tower fire on February 20, 2022 to be accidental. The fire department says smoking materials left unattended too close to combustible materials ignited in a room on the 9th floor and swiftly spread to floors 10, 11 and 12.
Investigators say the determination is based on interviews, on-scene interviews and coordination with other investigative agencies.
The fire at the structure on 5th Avenue displaced 150-residents. The Red Cross opened a temporary shelter at Veteran's Memorial Coliseum for displaced residents. The Salvation Army is helping coordinate meals.
The 12-floor building is a HUD-subsidized property. Those who live there are elderly and adults with disabilities.