An apartment building fire in Aberdeen displaced 11 people and caused more than $50,000 in damage on Friday afternoon, March 18.

Aberdeen Fire Department and Hoquiam Fire Department personnel were dispatched to the 200 block of C Street about 2:27 p.m. on Friday in response to a report about a fire.

“The initial units on-scene arrived to find smoke showing from the front of the building and roof with occupants actively evacuating the structure,” said Aberdeen Battalion Chief Troy Palmer in a report.

“The fire’s origin was discovered in an exterior wall that allowed the fire to immediately extend into the attic. The fire took approximately one hour to control.”

While there were no firefighters or civilians injured in the fire, the situation could have been much worse had precautionary measures not been in place.

“Thankfully the apartments had working smoke alarms that alerted the tenants to the fire,” said Palmer, who noted the American Red Cross was requested to assist the displaced residents.

The fire drew a number of first responders. A total of 17 firefighters responded to the scene — 10 from Aberdeen, five from Hoquiam and two from Grays Harbor Fire District No. 2 in Central Park, as well as five fire engines and two medic units.

Aberdeen Fire Chief Tom Hubbard, who is retiring in June, and Aberdeen Assistant Fire Chief Dave Golding also responded to the scene along with Hoquiam Assistant Fire Chief Matt Miller.

The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation.