By: Richard L. Smith
Heavy smoke from a cooking-related fire inside an apartment prompted residents of a North Arlington multifamily building to dial 911 late Saturday afternoon.
The incident occurred just before 5 p.m. at 44 Beech Street, where occupants reported smoke conditions coming from inside the building.
Firefighters from the North Arlington Fire Department responded quickly and were able to locate the source of the fire inside one of the basement apartments.
According to officials, the fire ignited while a resident was cooking, and oil caught fire.
Firefighters were able to knock down the flames before the fire spread or caused significant damage to the apartment.
The individual involved suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
As a precaution, residents were temporarily evacuated and not allowed back into the building while firefighters conducted ventilation and ensured the structure was safe.
After the investigation and safety checks were completed, the building was turned back over to property management and the building superintendent.
The incident remains under investigation.