Concord firefighters switch out air tanks after a smoky fire at 6 High Street in Penacook Monday, July 31, 2017. Fire gutted a kitchen and heavily damaged a 7 unit apartment house at 6 High Street Monday morning. There were no injuries and the cause of the fire is under investigation, according to Conocrd Fire Chief Daniel Andrus.
Concord firefighters switch out air tanks after a smoky fire at 6 High Street in Penacook Monday, July 31, 2017. Fire gutted a kitchen and heavily damaged a 7 unit apartment house at 6 High Street Monday morning. There were no injuries and the cause of the fire is under investigation, according to Conocrd Fire Chief Daniel Andrus. Credit: GEOFF FORESTER

A fire that heavily damaged an apartment house in Penacook on Monday started while a resident was cooking breakfast, the fire chief said.

Fire Chief Dan Andrus wrote in a statement Thursday that the fire was accidental. He said Fire Marshal Paul Sirois determined “that the fire was caused by materials on the stove top igniting.”

“The occupant tried to control the fire, but it spread quickly and he left the apartment,” Andrus said.

No one was injured, but several residents were displaced from the seven-unit building and two pets – a cat and a fish – were killed.

“Most cooking fires occur when an appliance is left unattended, but when an occupant is present it is important to leave the area and call 911 rather than trying to fight the fire,” Andrus said.

 

(Nick Reid can be reached at 369-3325, nreid@cmonitor.com or on Twitter at @NickBReid.)