Kitchen Fire at Yakima Apartment Forces Evacuation

A small fire at a Yakima apartment Tuesday forced about 20 people from the building. Firefighters say it wasn't the fire that did the most damage, but water from the sprinklers that put out the fire.

The fire started after someone in a third-floor apartment unit on the 800 block of East D Street left a pan of oil unattended on the stove around 6 p.m. Firefighters say the sprinklers put out the fire quickly, but the water soaked that unit and five others below it. Crews say the affected apartments are now without power and will need to be cleaned up before tenants can return.

The Red Cross is now helping some of the people, while others are staying with family or friends.

Firefighters also say that although the water damage was significant, the sprinklers saved the building from severe structural damage from the fire.