COLUMBUS, Ind. – A quick response by the Columbus Fire Department (CFD) prevented significant damage in an apartment complex following a Sunday evening kitchen fire. Tenants evacuated the building without injury.
Firefighters responded to 37 Salzburg Blvd., Steinhurst Manor Apartments, just after 6:30 p.m., following a report of a residential fire, per CFD’s Capt. Mike Wilson.
When crews arrived they saw no visible fire from the exterior of the two-story building. They advanced to a second-story apartment and found flames with heavy smoke in the kitchen. The fire was quickly extinguished.
The occupant told investigators that she had prepared a meal in the kitchen and was eating in a bedroom when she heard a smoke alarm sounding. She had placed a plastic trash can on the countertop while sweeping the kitchen floor after preparing the meal. CFD determined that the trash can made contact with a hot burner which led to the fire.
The blaze caused around $6500 in damages. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental.
