Mt. Vernon Fire Chief Kevin Sargent says eight people were temporarily displaced following an apartment house fire on Monday.
The fire started in the Ratesha Turner apartment in the 700 block of South 18th after she left the apartment with food on the stove. When she returned, she opened the door to find the kitchen on fire. The fire on the first floor of the two story building with basement also burned up into the apartment above it. Sargent says firemen were able to stop the fire at that point, but there was smoke and water damage throughout the six unit apartment building.
Sargent reports Mt. Vernon Police were able to get everyone out of the building before their arrival. There were no injuries.
Sargent says the Red Cross was called to help the eight residents of the building until repairs are made and they can return.
The building is owned by Scott Clifton.
The fire call came in at 11:50 Monday morning with firemen clearing the scene by 1:30. Jefferson Rural provided mutual aid on the scene while Kell stood by at the Mt. Vernon fire station in the event of another fire.
