A fire Monday afternoon damaged an apartment complex. Clinton fire crews were called the unit at 846 Gateway Avenue at about 2:30.
The first crews arrived to find no smoke showing from the 2-and-a-half story 12 unit apartment complex. But as firefighters entered the building, they found smoke coming from one of the apartments. The remainder of the building was evacuated with one person and 2 dogs removed from an upper back patio by a ladder.
The fire was contained to the unit, but the building next door was also evacuated because the smoke had spread to that building.
The occupant of the apartment where the fire started was not home at the time and returned later. A family cat was removed as firefighters entered the apartment. The cat was given oxygen by crews at the scene, but the cat did not survive.
The crews noted that there were working smoke detectors and did operate and alert some residents in other apartments. Other residents were alerted and walked out with fire crews.
The Clinton Fire Department responded with 14 personnel, 2 ladder trucks, an engine, 2 ambulances, a command vehicle and a safety officer. Camanche Fire Department assisted at the scene and the Camanche crews assisted in the removal of the individual from the upper back patio.
The damage is estimated at 40-thousand dollars. The cause of the fire is under investigation but appears to be accidental and started in the area of the kitchen in the apartment.
Also at the scene was the Clinton Animal Control, Clinton Police Department and the Red Cross.
