Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Rochester Fire Department was called to extinguish a fire in an apartment Friday afternoon and discovered that damage from the fire had created an improvised sprinkler system.

The fire was reported around 3 p.m. at 810 Second Street Northwest by a U.S. Postal Service Mail Carrier, who heard a smoke detector going off and spotted smoke coming from around the door to one of the five apartments in the building.

The responding firefighters had to force their way into the apartment and found a fire in the wall behind the kitchen stove. It was discovered the fire was being fueled by the natural gas line to the stove and had melted a nearby water supply line to the kitchen sink. Water spraying out of the melted water line dampened the fire and helped confine the damage to the area of the kitchen near the stove. The damage was estimated at about $7500.

No one was in the apartment at the time and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

More From Y-105FM