MUSCATINE—
A fire at a Muscatine apartment complex is being blamed on a still smoldering cigarette discarded in a plastic trash can.14 adults and four children are homeless and looking for a new place to live.
The fire started just before five Tuesday afternoon at Cottonwood Apartments. After returning to the scene Wednesday morning, Assistant Fire Chief Gary Lee told News 8 the cigarette was thrown into the trash on a third floor balcony and ignited flames that ripped through the roof of the 12-unit building.
''This is the second we've seen in two weeks with a cigarette in a trash can outside'', Lee said. So when are people going to get it? ''I don't know'', he said, shaking his head.
Meanwhile, some residents returned Wednesday morning to see any of their belongings escaped fire, smoke and water damage.
Like Betty Skipton who hoped to retrieve a ceramic doll made by her late mother. She died in 1982 when Betty was just 12 years old.
''I sat up all night'' Betty said, after trying to sleep at the local motel provided by the Red Cross, worrying if the irreplaceable keepsake survived the fire. Only fire personnel were allowed into the building, so she approached Muscatine fireman Darren Brooke, and asked if he would please look for it.,
He did, and came out of the burned out building, with her doll.
''My mom had made this when I was a little girl and she passed away. Thank God she's still here'', Betty cried, holding the hand-made doll to her chest. ''She's old and dusty, but I've got the one thing I was concerned about losing. She made it. I'm just thankful to have her''.
Brooke didn't want any praise for going above the call of duty today. ''I'm just doing my job'', he said.
