Feb. 05-- Residents of a 10-unit apartment building were displaced after a cooking fire Tuesday morning.
Firefighters driving in the area of 21st Street and Garnett Road saw flames from a building at the Village East Apartments, 11327 E. 23rd St., around 8:45 a.m., fire officials said.
Crews evacuated a man who was sleeping inside the building upon their arrival at the scene, said Fire Capt. Stan May. No serious injuries were reported.
Four apartments were heavily damaged, displacing seven adults and 11 children. Utilities to the other six units were disconnected while technicians checked electric lines in the building, May said.
Jewell Ross, a resident whose apartment was not affected by the fire, said he saw flames shooting from a window on the lower level.
Ross said he had started to call the fire department but stopped when he heard sirens in the parking lot.
A fire investigator determined the blaze started when a resident who was cooking left the apartment and stove unattended, May said.
He said the damage to the building will be in excess of $100,000.
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