Winter Fire

1224_IOW_Fire4.jpg, originally uploaded by lindsayjphoto.

1224_IOW_Fire1.jpg, originally uploaded by lindsayjphoto.

1224_IOW_Fire5.jpg, originally uploaded by lindsayjphoto.

Cedar Rapids firefighters battled bitterly cold temperatures and tough driving conditions in just getting to a fire on the city's northwest side today.

Fire crews were called to 258 31 St. NW about 9:30 a.m. today for a report of a car on fire inside a garage.

Homeowners Lavern and Ellie Wenndt began shoveling their driveway when their car, parked in their garage, began smoking.

Neighbor John Walker attempted to remove the smoking car, but he was not able to get it into neutral. He then tried to move the other car in the garage, but was unable to see the ignition because of smoke, he said.

The Wenndts called the Cedar Rapids Fire Department while Walker was trying to move the cars. When the first fire engine arrived only the car was on fire, however the fire truck became stuck in the snow at the bottom of the hill at Hogan Avenue and 32nd Street NW.

Firefighters ran a hose up the hill using water in the fire engine's tank. Fire crews were able to keep the fire from spreading throughout the home.

Four engines, a rescue truck and a command car responded to the call.

The Wenndts do not have any pets and no one was injured in the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.