Press Release
April 6, 2020
At 2:28 AM Monday April 6, 2020 the Burlington Fire Department was called to Autumn Heights Apartments, at 2830 Winegard Drive in Burlington, for an automated fire alarm activation. A Burlington police officer was in the area and responded also. Upon his arrival he was told that there was a fire in an apartment on the 6th floor. The responding battalion chief called for a second alarm and to include mutual aid from West Burlington Fire Department. This was the 3rd emergency call in 4 minutes.
Upon arrival firefighters discovered that the onsite resident assistant had responded to investigate the fire alarm and extinguished the fire using a fire extinguisher. Firefighters completed extinguishing the fire and helped with removing smoke from the floor. The fire occurred in the kitchen of apartment 603 due to unattended stovetop cooking. Fire damage is contained to the stove and surrounding cabinets and countertops and is considered accidental. Smoke detectors alerted the occupant to the fire and she responded.
Autumn Heights is a multi-building apartment complex. The fire occurred in the 7-story masonry structure containing 114 single bedroom units. One tenant was evaluated for a breathing issue and refused further treatment or transport to the hospital. There were no further injuries.
10 Burlington firefighters responded to the call and were assisted by West Burlington firefighters responding on mutual aid. Officers from the Burlington Police Department and Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office assisted with evacuating the building. Firefighters cleared the scene at 4:22 AM.
Mark Crooks, Fire Marshal