Firefighters put out hot spots on a building on Main Street in Karns City that caught fire Monday afternoon. Three people who lived in the rental building had to flee the fire, which caused an estimated $70,000 in damages.

KARNS CITY — An apparent cooking-related fire Monday afternoon forced three people to flee a first-floor apartment on Main Street in the borough, authorities said.

Vicky Dunkle, the tenant, suffered a minor burn in the fire that broke out about 1:30 p.m. at the home near the Karns City Junior Senior High School.

Damage was estimated at $70,000, said Chuck Barnes, chief of the Petrolia Volunteer Fire Department, which included $50,000 to the structure.

Brian and Jackie Garing of Fairview Township own the two-story rental house that is divided into three apartments. All the apartments — two on the first floor and one upstairs — are occupied.

Dunkle was home with her 11-year-old daughter and a friend. It was not known if anyone else lives there. The tenants in the other apartments were not home at the time of the fire.

Authorities said Dunkle was cooking on an electric stove when the blaze started in the kitchen.

“She tried to put it out with a fire extinguisher but couldn't,” Barnes said. “She (and the others) got out and then called 911.”

He said Dunkle had a “small burn” from the fire. A Sugarcreek Ambulance crew tended to her at the scene and she needed no other treatment.

The first-arriving crews were met with heavy fire coming out of the downstairs apartment. An attack crew went inside, authorities said, and the blaze was out in about 20 minutes,

“The guys did a really good job to minimize the damage,” Barnes said.

Most of the fire damage was confined to Dunkle's apartment.

“The kitchen area is completely lost,” Barnes said. He added that the entire house sustained smoke damage.

“As long as everybody's fine,” said Jackie Garing, “that's the main thing.”

Garing said she and her husband have owned the house for about 25 years. She said they have insurance.

Barnes said the tenants in all three apartments had renter's insurance.

The Butler chapter of the American Red Cross was reportedly contacted to assist Dunkle and her family.

While officials believe they know what started the blaze, a state police fire marshal has also been called to investigate.

Assisting the Petrolia VFD were firefighters from Chicora, Bruin, Parker and East Brady.