News Summary

A small fire on the top floor of a four-story apartment building yesterday resulted in the evacuation of the 99 occupancy Tubman Towers, 17 W. Johnson, and some damage.

The fire in an apartment at about 11:15 a.m. Tuesday began on an electric stove where a small, plastic container melted and ignited, said Battalion Chief Steve Goheen, Springfield Fire & Rescue Division.

Goheen said the sprinkler system in the apartment was about 4 feet away and activated. It contain the fire, which resulted in about $50 in fire damage and about $2,000 in water and smoke damage.

Before sprinkler systems, the building likely would have been ablaze as the fire spread from the top floor and into the attic, Goheen said.

Everybody was removed safely from the building, said Diane Mobley, the apartment's manager.