A two-alarm fire at a duplex apartment in Morgantown caused an estimated $20,000 in damage during the early morning hours of Jan. 9, according to a news release from city officials.
The Morgantown Fire Department responded to the fire at 130 Cornell Ave. after an occupant of the two-story building heard a smoke alarm and called 911.
Capt. Ken Tennant, a fire marshall with the Morgantown Fire Department, said three people lived in each of the apartments, but only two were home (one in each apartment) when the fire occurred.
When firefighters arrived on scene, they found smoke coming from one of the apartments, a city release said. A search of the building was conducted to ensure all the occupants were out of the structure.
According to officials, a small fire was found on the second floor and quickly extinguished. The building was ventilated to remove any remaining smoke. The incident was brought under control within 15 minutes.
Fire investigators were called to the scene and determined the fire started in an upstairs bedroom. According to Tennant, the cause of the fire was identified as an electric baseboard heater that ignited combustible materials, resulting in an accidental fire.
There were no injuries to firefighters or building occupants. Tennant said the apartment where the fire occurred is not habitable until repairs are made, but the other apartment in the duplex was not damaged. He said the displaced tenants have found alternative lodging.
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