Two La Mesa residents were displaced Thursday afternoon after a fire heavily damaged their apartment, authorities said.
The fire sparked just before 4 p.m. on the third floor of a three-story apartment complex in the 5300 block of Marengo Avenue.
Fire crews arrived to smoke coming from the structure. They stretched hose lines to the third floor and began battling the flames.
Authorities said firefighters were able to confine the fire to the kitchen area of the apartment and knocked it down within minutes.
One resident was home during the fire and told authorities she was sleeping in the back bedroom when the smoke woke her up.
She saw flames coming from the stove in the kitchen and tried to put it out with water. Officials said that caused the fire to spread.
The resident was able to safely evacuate the apartment and was not injured. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Local
Officials said damage to the apartment is estimated at approximately $50,000.
The residents were displaced and are being assisted by the Red Cross.
