COEUR d'ALENE - A baseboard heater in close proximity to an artificial Christmas tree started a fire inside a Coeur d'Alene apartment Friday.

Damage was limited to a single unit of an 18-unit building at the Ironwood Apartments complex, and no injuries were reported.

Deputy Chief Glenn Lauper of the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department said the tree, made in China, was labeled "flame resistant."

"It burned like a torch," he said.

The ground-floor tenant was at work at the time of the afternoon fire, at 951 W. Emma Ave.

Lee Holbrook, a battalion chief for the fire department, said most of the damage was from smoke and not flames.

The blackened remnants of the Christmas tree were tossed outside the apartment.

Holbrook said the tree's lights didn't appear to have been plugged in.

While the tenant wasn't home, her cat was. The gray tabby was eventually found, safe, hiding behind a TV.

Lauper estimated property damage at less than $10,000 to the apartment and its contents.

Apartment community manager Shelley Reyna said some neighboring tenants were home at the time of the fire but they were evacuated by police and neighbors.

Reyna said she first heard a loud boom.

"The smoke was thick coming out," she said.

She then could hear the smoke alarms sounding.

She said the fire forced the glass slider door out of the wall of the apartment, without breaking the glass.

Lauper said the slider was unseated from the wall by a "smoke explosion."

He said people must keep heating appliances away from Christmas trees.

In this incident, the tree was flammable, as were the presents and decorations.

As another precaution this holiday season, he said, "Don't leave your pets unattended."