Iowa City Fire Department Contains Damaging Oakcrest Street Apartment Fire

No one was hurt but several tenants were displaced by a Monday night fire that caused more than $40,000 worth of damage to an Oakcrest Street apartment building according to an media release.

At 8:40 p.m. Monday evening, the fire department was notified of a structure fire at 1001 Oakcrest Street. The fire department responded with Quint 2, Engine 1, Engine 4, Truck 1, and the Battalion Chief. Fire units that arrived quickly to the scene noted that a second-story apartment was fully in flames, with fire threatening nearby apartments.

According to the release fire crews "mounted an aggessive fire attack," bringing the fire under control within 12 minutes. The firefighters then worked to search the building for potential victims, to make sure the fire had not spread, and worked to salvage and protect the belongings of the other tenants.

The thirteen firefighters on scene were able to contain the fire to the one apartment, sparing nearby apartments from fire or water damage. The fire was considered under control within a half hour of the crew's arrival, and the firefighters remained on the scene for another hour and a half.

Occupants of two different apartments were displaced by the fire. Damage to the building and contents has been given a preliminary estimate of $42,000, according to the release.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the fire department.