Fire scorches South Main apartment

Firefighters responded to a fire at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at 716 S. Main St., a six-unit apartment building owned by Jimmy Reeder, a report from the Ottawa Fire Department said.

Ottawa Fire Chief Jeff Carner said the fire started in the basement and caused an estimated $40,000 damage to the building and its contents. Damage was contained to the unit of origin, the report said.

Carner said investigators are confident the fire was accidental, but they aren’t 100 percent sure of the cause.

He said several occupants were home when the fire started and were able to escape without incident. At least eight people live in the building, he said.

Carner said because power was cut off to the building, all occupants were encouraged to find temporary housing elsewhere. Assistance from the American Red Cross was available for those who requested it, he said.

He said appropriate repairs and evaluations must be completed before power can be restored to the building.