Fire causes minor damage at Cedar Rapids apartment complex

A smoky fire in an apartment kitchen at 253 38th St. Dr. SE briefly sent the building's tenants outside Sunday afternoon.

Firefighters called to the Continental Terrace complex about 3:15 p.m. found light smoke coming from the building's roof and from the windows of a second-floor apartment. They entered to find cooking oil left unattended had caught fire and spread to nearby cupboards and walls.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire. They were on scene about an hour checking to ensure it hadn't spread through the ceiling and salvaging items from the damaged apartment, fire department spokesman Andy Olesen said.

A juvenile who lives in the apartment told firefighters she stepped away from the stove while heating oil to cook french fries, Olesen said. Adam Ironside, a maintenance worker at the complex, tried to extinguish the fire while the girl called 911, Olesen said.

Tenants of the building's 15 other apartments were allowed to return after the fire was confirmed to be out and the building had been ventilated. The Red Cross was called to provide temporary lodging for Steven Balong, 34, and the two juveniles who live with him while their damaged apartment is repaired.

The fire's cause is officially listed as accidental.

Olesen reminded residents cooking food shouldn't be left unattended. Shutting off the heat and placing a lid over burning pan will smother a grease fire.