Eau Claire (WEAU) - Fire ripped through an apartment at 4607 Fairfax Friday afternoon in Eau Claire.

The building was immediately evacuated.

Fire was confined to one apartment, but as of mid-afternoon, fire crews were not letting anyone back in the building which houses several apartments.

The apartment where it started is badly damaged.

A woman lived there with her two kids, but no one was home at the time.

Fire investigators determined the fire started from clothes too close to a heater.

There were no injuries.

Damage is estimated at $50,000.

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Release from Eau Claire Fire Department:

Eau Claire fire rescue was called by a passer by of a possible fire, they saw black smoke coming from the area of Golf and Fairfax St.

On engine crew arrival they saw smoke coming from 4706 Fairfax St, an apartment building. They began evacutation of the rest of the apartments. The fire was extinguished quickly and contained to that apartment.

Crews had to rescue occupants from the upper units via ladder. Fire crews also had to assist handicapped occupant from the building. The occupant of the apartment that was involved was not home at the time.

There were no injuries to occupants or fire fighters as a result of the fire. Occupants were allowed to return to their apartment other than the apartment that was involved.

A fire department investigator was on the scene determining the cause. At the time of the press release the cause is undetermined. Damage was estimated at about $50,000.

The property owner was on the scene securing the apartment.