Fire crews responded at about 6 p.m. Thursday to the 300 block of Thayer Avenue in downtown Bismarck after a kitchen fire broke out on the second floor of an apartment building. Officials say no one was injured, but the number of units affected and the extent of damage remain under review.
The incident comes at a time when fall is typically a higher-risk period for residential fires in Bismarck-Mandan. According to the city’s alerts, September and October are peak months for fire incidents and safety warnings.
Downtown Bismarck’s older apartment buildings often have tighter layouts and shared systems for ventilation and wiring — meaning that even a small kitchen fire can pose a heightened threat to neighbouring units and tenants. Landlords and tenants alike in the downtown corridor should be attuned to fire-safety practices especially as the heating season approaches.
While the blaze was relatively small, the fact that it occurred in a prominent downtown block underscores the importance of smoke alarms, working fire extinguishers, clear exit pathways — and prompt response by the city’s fire department.
One nearby tenant, who asked to remain anonymous, remarked: “You hear the sirens and you wonder — is this my building next? It reminded me to check our smoke alarms again when we got home.”
While this kitchen blaze in downtown Bismarck ended without injury, it serves as a timely reminder: regular checks of alarms, fire extinguishers, and escape paths aren’t just good practice — they’re essential. Local apartment dwellers and property managers should use this incident to refresh fire-safety protocols and ensure everyone in the building knows what to do.
