Press Release
July 5, 2021
At 12:22 AM Monday July 5, 2021 the Burlington Fire Department was dispatched to 1837 Highland Avenue for a reported structure fire involving a garage and house. Firefighters arrived at 12:25 AM to find heavy fire coming from a detached 2-car garage behind the house. The fire had spread to the back of the house as well as a 2-car garage at 1839 Highland Ave. Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire in the second garage as well as stop the fire from advancing further into the house at 1837 Highland. In total 5 properties received damages related to this fire. Those properties are; 1825 Highland, 1837 Highland, 1839 Highland, 1824 Osborn, and 1828 Osborn. All fires were declared extinguished at 2:33 AM.
The single-family rental home, occupied by Edward Dewitt, Dereisha Thompson, and their 4 children, is owned by Yesara LLC of Burlington. The occupants were alerted to the fire by neighbors knocking on their door and they were all able to escape without injury. The Red Cross has been called for victim assistance. The property is insured, but there is no rental insurance. Damages estimates are still being assessed.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Burlington Police and Fire Departments and is considered suspicious.
Due to multiple emergency calls occurring at once, Burlington firefighters initially responded with 3 firefighters. A second engine crew was able to break free from a call and arrived on scene a short time later. Eight West Burlington firefighters responded on automatic aid. Four off duty Burlington firefighters were called into help. Burlington Police and Alliant Energy also assisted at the scene. Firefighters remained at the scene until 4:37 AM. There were no injuries.
Mark Crooks
Fire Marshal