Fire Department

A west-side resident knew she'd have to resort to Plan B after her traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal went up in smoke.
 
A neighbor at the Elver Park Apartments (1144 Morraine View Dr.) was concerned there may be a fire when she saw smoke filling a common hallway in the building. She pulled the building’s fire alarm to alert fellow residents.
 
When Ladder 7 and other MFD companies arrived, they saw nothing showing from the outside. They were advised the second floor was filled with smoke.
 
Ladder 7 investigated as Engine 7 prepared a hose line. Firefighters went door to door with a thermal imaging camera trying to identify which apartment might be the target.
 
On the exterior, other firefighters noted condensation on the windows of one apartment. Crews struggled to gain access to that apartment as the knox box keys provided didn’t work on the doors.
 
Just as building maintenance provided the proper keys, a woman identified herself as the resident of the second-floor apartment that appeared to be the source of all the smoke.
 
She said she was cooking corned beef and cabbage on her electric stove top when she lost track of time and burned the food. When her apartment filled with smoke, she opened the door to ventilate, releasing smoke into the hallway. After turning off the stove and placing the hot pan in her sink, she left the building to run an errand.
 
Damage was contained to the burned pan and its contents. With no active fire and the air clear, residents were invited to return to the building and resume their St. Patrick’s Day festivities.