A report of a fire alarm activated at Central Place Apartments, 629 Central Ave., was received at 9:17 a.m.
Police officers who were first on the scene reported smoke on the second floor of the six-story building.
Fire Department Capt. Jeff Hill said the source of the smoke was determined to be apartment 202. There, he said, three sprinkler heads activated and extinguished a fire that was burning a chair and some cushions.
Firefighters searched the apartment for people and put out a couple of hot spots. They also ventilated smoke from the apartment.
Police officers helped to evacuate residents of the other apartments. Those residents were allowed to go inside next door at Citizens Central.
Hill said the occupant of the apartment was home when the fire started, but was able to get out into the hallway.
Apartment 202 sustained smoke, fire and water damage, while the apartment below it sustained water damage.
The American Red Cross is assisting the resident of the fire-damaged apartment, Hill said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, he said.
Emergency personnel were on the scene until 11 a.m.
