A kitchen fire in San Anselmo caused up to $5,000 to an apartment Wednesday night and forced a lane closure on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.
The fire broke out at 7:25 p.m. at 1586 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., a two-story apartment complex near the Fairfax border. Ross Valley fire Battalion Chief Jim Hanson said the fire was ignited by an unattended pot on a stove.
A neighbor grabbed a fire extinguisher at the building and quickly put out the fire. Damage was limited to the kitchen, and the two apartment residents were not injured, Hanson said.
"Everyone should always have within 75 feet of travel a charged fresh extinguisher," he said. "That made a big difference tonight betwen someone staying home and someone going to the hospital."
He estimated the damage at $3,000 to $5,000 to the walls and appliances.
San Anselmo police blocked one westbound lane of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to make room for fire trucks, causing minor traffic delays.