Untended cooking sets damaging fire

A kitchen fire yesterday afternoon caused about $15,000 damage to a home at 901 Ashland Road, Battalion Chief Gary Warren of the Columbia Fire Department said in a news release.

No one was injured during the fire that was called in shortly before 1 p.m. by occupant Will Morris, who had left food cooking untended on the stove.

Heavy smoke was coming out the front door when firefighters arrived, but the small blaze was extinguished within five minutes.

While searching the smoke-filled home, firefighters rescued a pet iguana, two exotic birds and another reptile.