Fire damages house on Mill St.

GAINESVILLE - A kitchen fire Tuesday night caused about $15,000 damage to a house in the 1200 block of Mill Street in Gainesville.

Gainesville Fire Chief Jon Canada says the fire broke out around 7:45, and although there were three smoke detectors in the house, none of them had batteries in them.

Canada emphasized again, as he has in the past, the importance of making sure there are work detectors in your home and that they are in working order. He noted that if the fire had occurred during the night when the occupants were asleep, it could have been tragic.

Chief Canada says no one was hurt in Tuesday night's fire which was contained to the kitchen but caused smoke damage throughout the 1,200-square-foot dwelling. The residents were at home but had left food cooking on the stove unattended, smelled smoke and were able to get out of the house safely. However, they had to spend the night elsewhere.