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No one was injured when a kitchen fire -- caused by unattended cooking -- erupted in a first-floor apartment at the rear of 529 Grier St. about 8 p.m. Thursday, city fire officials said.
Fire Chief Sam Aungst said a man cooking French fries on the stove fell asleep. It was unclear Thursday night if the man woke up himself or was awaken by his girlfriend who, upon returning home, discovered smoking pouring from their apartment door.
This had all the
potential of being a fatal fire, Aungst said, because the tenants had allegedly removed working smoke alarms that had been installed by the landlord. City code mandates working smoke alarms in all apartments.
Aungst warned that from now on, tenants who tamper with or remove smoke alarms from their apartments will be charged with an
ordinance violation.
While the fire was confined to the kitchen, there was smoke and heat damage throughout the apartment, Aungst said. Damage was at least $15,000, he added.
The local chapter of the American Red Cross was assisting the two fire victims and their pet. All other tenants could return to their apartments.