June 07--Careless use of smoking materials caused $5,000 in fire damages to a St. Charles apartment complex Saturday afternoon, fire officials said.
No one was injured, and the one occupant in the apartment at the time of the fire was able to self-evacuate, officials said.
At 1:22 p.m., St. Charles firefighters responded to a call at the Amli Apartment Complex, at 167 Lakeside Drive. Firefighters were on the scene by 1:24 p.m., and found visible smoke and fire from a third-floor balcony.
Firefighters were able to stop the fire before it entered the building. The fire was extinguished within 20 minutes, officials said.
The apartment remains habitable, and management from the complex is working with the occupant on repairs, officials said.
meltagouri@tribune.com
