Cigarette fire damages duplex

The Boone County Fire Protection District made quick work of a fire at a duplex Wednesday morning.

Firefighters first arrived at 1:20 a.m. at the duplex on South Bethel Lane and found smoke coming from the front of the house. The fire was brought under control in minutes and there was no damage to the adjoining duplex.

“When we arrived we had smoke coming from the front door and one of the bedroom windows. Firefighters entered the home through the front door and extinguished the blaze very quickly,” Capt. Gale Blomenkamp said. “Most of the damage was contained to the bedroom, however, there was some heat and smoke damage throughout the home.”

Gary Thompson and his son Garrett, who live in the duplex, heard their smoke detector go off and immediately left the building. Neither was injured. The Red Cross housed the family overnight because they were not able to stay in the home, Blomenkamp said.

The cause of the fire was an improperly discarded cigarette, officials said. The fire protection district estimates the fire caused $10,000 worth of damage.