As a resident of 150 W. Hamilton Ave. was bicycling home last night, she saw her street lit up by the lights of fire trucks and flares. When the woman, who would not give her name, stopped her bicycle in front of the small duplex where she lives, she was told the fire was in her home.

Alpha Fire Company Chief Steven Triebold said the fire started in the kitchen and caused heavy damage to that room, and smoke damage to the rest of that side of the duplex.

No one was home at 150 W. Hamilton at 9:15 p.m. when the fire company received a call from residents of the adjoining side of the duplex, said Triebold.

Maureen Kushmore of 148 W. Hamilton Ave., said she called the department after she and another resident, Michael Provance, came home and heard the fire alarm go off.

"Michael went up through their garage and saw smoke billowing out through the kitchen door," Kushmore said. "He came back and said 'grab a bag and call the fire department. Their kitchen is an ash.' "

Kushmore said she and Provance put their cat away, grabbed their portable phone and hurried out to the street.

As fire fighters packed up to leave, Triebold said none of the other residents had been contacted yet. The female resident who arrived after the fire fighters did not comment.

Triebold said the cause of the fire has not been determined.