A weekend fire caused by late-night french-fry cooking caused $27,000 in damage at a Butler house, authorities said.

A city fireman suffered a minor injury battling the Saturday blaze, but two young children asleep in the home in the 400 block of East Jefferson Street were not hurt.

Miles Confer said he was heating grease in a pan on the stove about 10:15 p.m. when he went into the living room, according to the Butler Fire Department.

A short time later, he returned to the kitchen to place the fries in the pan and found the hot grease had ignited.

“There were flames coming from the stove,” said fire department Lt. Tom Fair.

The 28-year-old Confer got his sleeping children out of the rental house, a single story with an attic, and 911 was notified at 10:22 p.m.

Five minutes later, firefighters arrived and made it into the home through the front door. Another crew used a ladder to access the attic.

“The fire was in the kitchen,” Fair said, “and had started to spread to an adjacent room when it was knocked down.”

Firefighter Tim Iman cut a finger on a piece of broken window glass while trying to get into the attic. He was treated at the scene for the cut, which fire officials described as minor.

Fire officials estimated damage at $20,000 to the home, owned by Mark Harvey, and another $7,000 to the contents.

Fair pointed out there were apparently no smoke detectors in the house. He said the fire also is a good reminder of how important it is to have a smoke detector and to check for the batteries in them.

“This is the time of year when people are firing up their furnaces and space heaters,” he said, “so now is definitely the time to check.”

Fair said the fire department has smoke detectors available at the station for residents who need them.

“We’ll also install them for elderly people or anyone who needs help,” he said.