Disaster averted at Cedar Park Homes fire

Unit sustains fire and smoke damage, but blaze died out before it could spread

An apartment at Cedar Park Homes caught fire Monday, April 8, but a potential disaster to the building was averted as the fire burned itself out of oxygen before it could spread further. 

That's according to Anaconda Fire Department Captain Jason McElroy, who explained that thanks to the doors of the apartment being closed at the time of the fire.

"Always make sure to close the doors," McElroy said. 

The fire, located at 211 N. Cedar St. No. 227, was reported by a neighbor at about 2:30 p.m. on Monday, after observing a large amount of smoke coming from the unit.

The resident was not at home at the time of the fire, though because a vehicle was parked out front of the apartment the emergency responders had to search the unit to make sure there was no one inside, McElroy said. 

As for the fire itself, McElroy said that something that had been left on the kitchen stove had caught fire. McElroy said there was smoke and fire damage throughout the whole apartment, but that it had not spread further and had burned itself out by the time the department arrived and put out what little remained of the fire. Firefighters then ventilated smoke from the apartment and from its neighboring units in the building as well, McElroy said. 

The Anaconda Fire Department and Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Law Enforcement were on scene, with the scene being cleared at approximately 3:30 p.m.

According to fireengineering.com, a closed door can limit the oxygen to a fire, stating that "since the oxygen consumed by a fire is directly proportional to the energy it produces, the closed door will slow the fire growth."