What started off as an audible fire alarm in the 2500 block of Southeast 272 Street in the West Hill section of Kent turned into an apartment fire where three people were displaced.

The fire, which was reported at 11 a.m., was controlled by firefighters from the Kent Fire Department and South King Fire and Rescue, limiting the damage to the affected apartment. One upstairs apartment unit had a light haze of smoke which dissipated over time.

No one was hurt in the fire, though one adult and two young children were displaced. The three are being cared for by other family members and the Red Cross.

According to the fire investigator, the fire was caused by hot oil left unattended on a stove top. Smoke damage was spread throughout the apartment. It is unclear whether there were working smoke alarms in the apartment.

The early warning provided by the alarm to all the residents in the apartment building once again shows the importance of an alarm system.

Smoke alarms save lives. A working smoke alarm may give you the extra time needed to evacuate your home during a fire. Never disable a smoke alarm or remove it. Change the battery at least once a year and replace smoke alarms every 10 years.