Fatal Fire Flares Up, Officials Name Victim

Cedar Rapids firefighters work to extinguish a fire near the intersection of 16th St. and A Ave. NE in Cedar Rapids on Monday, Nov. 17, 2008. (Jonathan D. Woods/The Gazette)

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Story Created: Nov 18, 2008 at 1:27 AM CST

Story Updated: Nov 18, 2008 at 6:37 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - Firefighters returned to the scene of a deadly fire on Tuesday evening. The original fire happened on Monday night, but firefighters were called back to put out some debris that had reignited. Firefighters say this kind of flare up is unusual, but they have the situation under control.

The Linn County medical examiner says that Bobby Booker, age 74, was killed in that house fire.

Firefighters responded to the home at 1524 A Avenue NE around 10:15 p.m. Monday night. Crews reported heavy smoke and fire showing from the second floor of the two-and-a-half story house. There were eight rental units in the home and seven were occupied at the time.

Eleven people escaped unharmed. Firefighters rescued Booker from a second floor bedroom. The CR Fire Department says he was found beneath a fire escape window. He died a short time later at St. Luke's Hospital.

The American Red Cross was on scene to help the fire victims. The Salvation Army was also on scene to provide support to fire crews.

There was heavy heat, fire and smoke damage to the second and third floors, as well as some smoke damage to the first floor. More than 20 firefighters responded to the two-alarm fire. The investigation into what started the fire continues.

The building is owned by Cameron West of Cedar Rapids.

The Cedar Rapids Fire Department says this is the first residential fire fatality in Cedar Rapids since December 1, 2004.

Friends say Bobby Booker was a regular in the neighborhood. He used to sit on the front porch for hours, smiling and waving at everyone who walked by.

When people heard Booker had died in the fire, they felt as though they had lost a good friend, even though few knew him well. Neighbors say the community just won't be the same now that he's gone.

"He usually kept to himself, he didn't talk much, but he'd look your way when he walked by and if you'd smile at him, he'd smile back," said Holly Kimberling, neighbor.

Cedar Rapids firefighters work to extinguish a fire near the intersection of 16th St. and A Ave. NE in Cedar Rapids on Monday, Nov. 17, 2008. (Jonathan D. Woods/The Gazette)

Capt. Mike Fredericks, of the Cedar Rapids Fire Department, and Kirkwood Community College student Scott Lorenzen, of Cedar Rapids, walk away from an apartment house at 1524 A Ave. NE that was damaged by fire Monday this morning, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008. Lorenzen, a fire science major, was spending the day with the fire department, and they stopped by to see the damage. One man died after being pulled from the burning house. (Jeff Raasch/The Gazette)

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