The Ironwood Public Safety Department and volunteer firefighters knocked down a kitchen fire Wednesday at 10:22 a.m. at the corner of Lowell and Francis Streets, but there was extensive smoke damage.
Homeowner Tammie Ruby said the fire started from an air fryer in the kitchen. She said she had just cleaned it when it suddenly burst into flames.
"The kitchen's pretty much a total loss," she said.
Smoke was pouring out from the top floor windows of the house at 1017 N. Lowell St. when fire trucks arrived.
After the fire had been doused around 11 a.m., friends and relatives were outside in the cold awaiting the capture of the last two pets in the house, a small black dog and a cat. Firefighters then walked out of the structure with the pets. They had been hiding after the fire.