A father is accused of leaving his two young sleeping children home alone with the stove burner still on at his Butler apartment.

The suspect, 25-year-old Kamarki Casanova-Rodriguez, told investigators that he forgot to turn off the stove about 11:30 p.m. Sept. 19 before going to the store, city police said.

The carelessness resulted in a home full of smoke at the Shore Street Apartments but no one was hurt, thanks in large part to a good neighbor. Police on Friday charged Casanova-Rodriguez with reckless endangerment and child endangerment.

The neighbor, Shawna Okeson, was home when she heard the smoke detector going off in the suspect’s apartment, authorities said. She went to check and found his door open. She also saw smoke.

When she got no answer, Okeson went inside. She found a skillet on top of a burner with an open flame, according to court documents. She turned it off and checked for anyone in the apartment.

Police said she found Casanova-Rodriguez’s 8-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter both asleep upstairs. She got the children out of the apartment and waited for the Butler Fire Department to get there.

Police said the unattended pan on the stove top caused “heavy smoke” in the home, but Okeson’s quick action ended any fire hazard. Firefighters arrived a short time later and ventilated the apartment. Damage was minimal.

Police said they identified the children and learned that Casanova-Rodriguez was supposed to be supervising them. The kids did not know their father’s whereabouts.

When they were unable to contact the defendant, officers took the children to the police station. About midnight, Casanova-Rodriguez showed up at the station.

“When asked,” according to a police affidavit, “he stated that he had the skillet on the stove heating up to clean it. He then went to Walmart for groceries and forgot he left the burner on.”

Casanova-Rodriguez could not be reached for comment. His preliminary hearing was not immediately scheduled.