Fire investigators determined that overcooked food left unattended caused a fire in a ground-floor apartment in a two story building in McCully Wednesday night.

Firefighters responded to the 9:26 p.m. alarm at 2214 Date Street between Paani and Isenberg streets and saw heavy smoke coming from the burning apartment, a Fire Department spokesman said.

Firefighters brought the fire under control at 9:34 p.m. and extinguished the fire by 9:45 p.m.

No one was home at the time of the fire and all neighboring residents escaped without injury.

Neighbors were alerted to the fire by the smoke and attempted to control the fire with garden hoses before firefighters arrived.

Investigators estimated damage to the apartment and its contents at $35,000.

The person who lived at the apartment is staying with friends and family, firefighters said.