KENNEWICK, Wash. – An apartment caught fire in Kennewick on Tuesday afternoon, causing the building to be evacuated.
Kennewick Fire Department Deputy Chief Michael Heffner said the department responded at around 5 p.m. to the Copper Ridge apartment complex for reports of one of the apartments being on fire.
The Kennewick Police Department quickly worked to evacuate all residents of the complex.
Heffner says KFD found the fire in the kitchen of an apartment on the third story along with its resident who was stuck on the balcony.
The resident reportedly went to the balcony while cooking and was unable to get back inside or do anything about the fire starting in the kitchen.
Heffner says the sprinkler system in the apartment complex contained the fire to the single apartment, however there was water damage done to the first and second floor apartments directly below the burned apartment.
The woman trapped on the balcony was completely safe from the fire and was freed from the balcony once the fire was out and smoke was cleared.
Heffner notes that the three damaged apartments were deemed uninhabitable. Copper Ridge is working to move the residents to vacant apartments while repairs are being done.
KFD was supported by Richland Fire Department, Pasco Fire Department, Benton County Fire District 1 and KPD in the incident.