One half of a duplex in South Lake Tahoe was severely damaged by fire on Tuesday.

Oil in a frying pan is the reported cause of the blaze.

It started in the afternoon of May 16 on Shepherds Drive in a two-story duplex. Firefighters said the smoke spread into the attic space.

“It’s imperative to watch what you’re cooking, have a fire extinguisher nearby and to be sure your smoke detector is working,” firefighters said.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report