Mitchell apartment sustains heavy damage from morning fire

A morning stove fire caused significant damage to a one-bedroom apartment in northern Mitchell, but authorities said no one was injured.

At about 8:30 a.m. Monday, firefighters responded to a smoke alarm at Meadowlawn Plaza, located in the 200 block of East 15th Avenue in Mitchell, according to firefighter Joe Degen.

The Mitchell Fire Division found black smoke coming from a one-bedroom apartment on the second floor of the building. Inside, they discovered an open flame on top of the stove.

Approximately 10 firefighters responded to the scene. Fire crews evacuated the building and extinguished the blaze in about 10 minutes, Degen said, but officials remained at the building for about an hour.

Degen said a burner on the stove was accidentally turned on, and items stacked on top of the stove caught fire. The incident was not deemed suspicious.

"It was totally accidental," Degen said.

The fire was contained to the kitchen area but caused "quite a bit of damage," including to the stove and ceiling and smoke damage throughout the apartment.

Firefighters ventilated the building, but as of 10:30 a.m., Degen said there was still a smoke smell in the hallway.

No one was injured, but Degen said the apartment unit where the fire occurred is uninhabitable. The unit's sole occupant was not home at the time and was in the process of moving out, so no one is expected to be displaced.

1/2: Mitchell Fire and other public safety officials work the scene of an apartment fire at 200 E. 15th Ave. at the Meadowlawn Plaza apartments in Mitchell. (Luke Hagen / Republic)

2/2: Mitchell Fire and other public safety officials work the scene of an apartment fire at 200 E. 15th Ave. at the Meadowlawn Plaza apartments in Mitchell. (Luke Hagen / Republic)