The fire was reported at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday in the 3900 block of Franklin Avenue. No injuries were reported.
Leavenworth Fire Marshal Andy Brooks said someone apparently broke into a vacant second-floor apartment and placed miscellaneous items including mail and a DVD player on top of an electric stove. The person then turned on the burners.
The resulting fire activated the sprinkler system in the apartment, which put out the fire.
“The sprinkler basically ran until we shut it off,” Brooks said.
He said water from the sprinkler system flooded the apartment and a foyer area located on a lower level.
Brooks said electricity had to be shut off at the building.
“Water was flowing where we couldn’t see it,” he said. “We didn’t want to have any electrical hazards.”
He said the sprinkler system also was shut down to stop it from running and allow it to be drained out.
Brooks said about 12 tenants were displaced. He said the American Red Cross offered assistance to the people who were affected.
Angie Springs, regional communications manager for the American Red Cross, said in an email that the response team assisted the people who were impacted to address their immediate needs.
Brooks said a suspect has not been identified in the arson investigation.
