This from Isaac Main:

Hi,
 
I am a Chicago-area native and fan of your blog and I witnessed a fire in an office building this evening where I live in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I don’t know if the readers of your blog would be interested in seeing these images and I don’t have any details about the fire because the scene is still active and I nothing has been reported in the news yet. I’ve attached a couple of images. I have more if you’re interested.
 
I don’t know any details about how many alarms (the Cedar Rapids Fire Department described it as a “major fire” on their Twitter), but there were 5 engines, two trucks (from two different cities), two ambulances, a heavy rescue, two battalion chiefs pickups, and another staff car of some sort. I heard several explosions and ran to the scene from my apartment, about a block away. There were flames through the roof when I arrived and the first engine showed up just before me. I think everyone in the building escaped unscathed. The building was occupied by a hospital and I think it was just offices, but I’m not sure given the explosions.
 
Thanks for your time,
Isaac
Cedar Rapids fire trucks on scene

Isaac Main photo

Cedar Rapids fire trucks on scene

Isaac Main photo

Cedar Rapids FD incident commander

Isaac Main photo