Charcoal grill blamed for apartment fire

What started as a resident grilling lunch on a nice day turned into a large apartment fire in Aurora that injured no one but left half the building's units uninhabitable.

A resident at the complex on the 1800 block of Westfield Drive was grilling hot dogs before leaving for work around 2 p.m. Tuesday. While he was gone, winds picked up and blew hot embers into the siding and wooden deck, causing the fire to spread quickly, Deputy Fire Chief John Lehman said.

A neighbor called the fire department shortly after 5 p.m. and within a half-hour crews extinguished the fire. No tenants were injured but officials estimate damage at more than $300,000, Lehman said.

At least three units had major damage, including that of the man whose grill started the fire. Five other units sustained smoke and water damage, Lehman said.

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