Bad smoke alarm let grease fire spread undetected in Auburn apartment blaze

A weekend blaze that destroyed four units in an Auburn apartment building started with a grease fire, the Valley Regional Fire Authority determined Sunday.

There were no injuries reported, but one firefighter was treated at the scene for heat exhaustion.

The fire, at the Park Place Apartments in the 2900 block of R St. S.E., was reported about 5:30 p.m., and took about 45 minutes to control, according to spokeswoman Kimberly McDonald.

Fire authorities later determined that the smoke alarm in the unit where the fire began did not have a working battery. Because of that residents initially were unaware of the fire, according to fire officials.

The blaze left six apartments uninhabitable, and 16 residents were homeless. But residents in two of the units will be able to return home later today. The Red Cross is helping the other displaced residents.

The 30-year-old building did not have fire-suppression sprinklers, McDonald said.