#Family of 5 displaced after a kitchen fire in Kent

By KOMO Staff Published: Jul 26, 2015 at 7:52 PM PDT Last Updated: Jul 26, 2015 at 7:57 PM PDT

KENT, Wash. -- A family of five is having to find a new place to sleep after a kitchen fire caused significant damage to their Kent Valley apartment.

It happened around 5:30 Sunday evening in the 1000 block of Central Avenue North. The family came home to find the apartment filled with thick smoke and immediately called 911.

Neighbors reported hearing the smoke detector sounding, but couldn't tell which apartment it was coming from, fire crews said.

The Kent Fire Department arrived at the apartment and found heavy smoke, but no active flames. Fire crews said they searched for any hidden fires in the walls or ceilings, but none were found. Crews then ventilated the apartment to get rid of the smoke.

The Kent Fire Investigator said all the windows and doors of the apartment were closed and the fire in the kitchen extinguished itself when the oxygen level in the room fell below the minimum required to sustain a fire.

Fire officials said there was no cooking happening at the time of the fire and the cause is under investigation.

The apartment has smoke and heat damage throughout. The family is staying with relatives locally until the damages are repaired.

No one was injured during the fire.