Fire in northeast Columbia caused by unattended cooking

COLUMBIA —On Tuesday afternoon, the Columbia Fire Department responded to an apartment building fire at 2900 Lawrence Court.

On arrival, firefighters saw light smoke coming from the third floor of the building. No one was in the apartment when firefighters arrived.

When they entered the building, firefighters found a pan of food left on a stove, according to a new release from the Fire Department. The cause of fire has been determined to be the unattended cooking, and damages are estimated at $500.

The apartment is owned by Arendt Management.