DULUTH — A Christmas Day apartment fire along Pleasant Hill Road displaced 13 people Tuesday afternoon, though no injuries were reported.

Firefighters were dispatched at 2:14 p.m. to reports of a fire at the MAA Pleasant Hill Apartments, 2500 Pleasant Hill Road. A caller told 911 that something was burning on a balcony and that residents were evacuating the building.

Crews arrived to find flames coming from a second-floor balcony. Firefighters quickly brought the fire under control and prevented it from spreading further. Two apartments sustained significant fire and water damage. No nearby apartment buildings were affected.

All occupants exited the building safely, and firefighters remained on scene to ensure the fire was fully extinguished.

According to fire officials, the fire began when a resident was cooking food on a balcony. The resident attempted to extinguish the flames, but the fire spread, prompting evacuation. Investigators determined the fire was accidental.

Smoke alarms were functioning and activated during the incident. The fire displaced 10 adults and three children, who are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross and apartment management.

Fire officials reminded residents that cooking should never be done on apartment balconies and emphasized the importance of maintaining working smoke alarms in all homes.

Equipment on scene included four engines, two ladder trucks, one squad, one rescue unit, one medical unit, three command staff vehicles, and one air and light unit.