Apartment building near Gonzaga significantly damaged in Wednesday blaze

A fire Wednesday afternoon near Gonzaga did significant damage to a house converted into apartments.

The Spokane Fire Department responded just before 3 p.m. to reports that a pot of oil on a stove had ignited and spread to the kitchen cabinets in a house on the 300 block of East Ermina Avenue.

When firefighters arrived minutes later, they found heavy smoke and fire visible from three sides of the building.

After conducting a search of the building, firefighters attacked the fire to keep it from spreading to the floors above, the fire department said.

Twenty-five firefighters extinguished the blaze within 15 minutes.

The fire damage was contained to the first floor and exterior rear stairwell. Smoke damage spread throughout the home, including moderate damage to the roof.

No firefighters or residents were injured. The estimated damage to the home was $125,000.