A sprinkler system in an apartment building in Eau Claire puts out a fire before firefighters get there.

Battalion Chief Kim Nessel says about 20 firefighters responded to the park towers apartments on Farwell Street just before midnight.

Nessel says the sprinkler system had completely extinguished the fire.

He credits the well maintained sprinkler and fire alarm system for avoiding injuries.

He says as firefighters arrived, people on the eighth floor were evacuating.

Out of more than 120 people living in the building, only three had fire and water damage in their apartments.

The fire is believed to have started in a bathroom.

Damage is estimated at $21,000.