BEATRICE – Beatrice firefighters were sent to a North Ninth Street residence just before noon Thursday, after smoke was observed coming from the upper part of the residence.

Fire Chief Brian Daake says a small fire was caused by unattended cooking.   Some vegetable oil ignited in a pan, causing a flareup and smoke within the residence. No one was injured, and there was minor damage.

Firefighters were sent to the seven-hundred block of North 9th at around 11:45 a.m. and were on scene for about half-an-hour.