-Chronicle photo

Smoke wafts out of the stairwell while fire fighters prepare to ventilate a smoky apartment at the Knoblock Apartments on Thursday, October 6, after initial fire fighters' response knocked down a kitchen fire. Apparently, cooking oil on a stove ignited into flames which spread to some nearby items then involved cabinets around and above the stove and its vent, according the District 3 Chief Jeromy Phinney. Occupants attacked the fire with extinguishers and the fire department arrived to ensure the fire had not gotten into the walls.