United States (Virginia) - A Roanoke firefighter and a resident of a duplex on Eastern Avenue Northeast were hurt when a fire started by someone smoking in bed ripped through a room in the building Thursday night, the fire department said today. The 10:03 p.m. blaze on the second floor of a two-story structure at 1715 Eastern Avenue caused about $30,000 in damage before 23 firefighters and medics brought it under control 12 minutes later, said Roanoke Fire-EMS in a statement.

With an "aggressive interior attack," firefighters contained the blaze to the room where it started, the fire department said.

A firefighter whose name wasn't released was bitten by a cat rescuing the animal, the fire department said. He was treated at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

The lone occupant of the duplex also was hurt with a burn on the hand. He was treated at the scene, said the fire department.

Written by The Roanoke Times