Iowa Man Saved From 'Controlled' Fire Drill
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) -- What was supposed to have been a practice drill turned into a real life rescue for firefighters.
As firefighters on Friday set fire to a dilapidated house as part of a drill to fight a controlled burn, a man appeared at one of the windows.
''We changed gears, from watching a house burn to performing a rescue,'' said Cedar Rapids Fire Department spokesman Dave Koch. ''Fortunately for him and us, he wasn't hurt.''
The fire was quickly extinguished and the man met rescuers at the door, Koch said.
The man, identified as being homeless, didn't appear to be hurt. He was taken to St. Luke's Hospital for observation.
The house had been used before by fighters for various drills and was checked twice before it was set on fire Friday, Koch said.
The smoke apparently awakened the man, Koch said.
''He was hiding somehow, somewhere,'' he said.
The house was searched again before the fire was restarted, Koch said.