Fire Damages Independence Apartment

An apartment in Independence was damaged by fire late Sunday night.

The Independence Fire Department was dispatched to an apartment fire in the 1600 block of 2nd Street Southwest shortly after 11 pm, with initial reports indicating a female resident may still be inside.

When crews arrived on the scene, they observed smoke coming from the building and quickly made entry to search the apartment. The resident was not home at the time. Firefighters were able to safely rescue two cats from the apartment.

The fire caused significant fire and smoke damage, primarily in the bathroom area. The Independence Fire Department says the cause of the fire is believed to be electrical in nature.