Watch CBS News

Kitchen Fire Displaces St. Paul Residents

ST. PAUL (WCCO) -- Some St. Paul residents are safe after a fire engulfed their kitchen.

It happened around 5 a.m. Tuesday near the intersection of Rice and Arlington at the Lamplighter Apartment Complex.

A woman, who did not want to be named, said she was sleeping when the incident occurred.

NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Courtney King Reports

Podcast

"Me and my girlfriend were sleeping when we heard our two roommates screaming. Somebody was cooking on the stove," she explained.

She said her roommates were cooking french fries, turned off the stove when they were done and then left the room. That's when they heard a loud pop.

"We woke up and heard the fire alarms and screaming. So we came out and the whole kitchen was just engulfed in flames."

Everyone in the residence made it out of the apartment OK and with no injuries. The woman said the whole thing was really scary.

"I ran out and I seen the fire and ran back to the room and woke my girlfriend up. We got out and called 911."

According to the roommates, the fire was very quick and completely destroyed the kitchen and living room. The woman said some of their personal belongings were salvageable, but the rest of the unit suffered heavy smoke damage.

"There was smoke damage to our clothes but it's better than not having it," she said.

Firefighters said the fire started on the second floor, likely on a stove, and spread to the third floor before they got it out. Crews had to use ladders to rescue people from the balconies of an apartment building.

A few people inhaled a lot of smoke but did not have to go to the hospital.

The Red Cross is assisting four adults and one infant following the fire.

The exact cause is under investigation.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.