The attic of a two-story home in Auburn went up in flames Monday evening.

A fire was reported at about 5:15 p.m., sending Auburn firefighters to 168 Cottage St. to try to prevent an electrical fire from spreading to two apartments below. Tuesdsay morning firefighters returned to douse hot spots in the attic after hearing reports of smoke drifting out of a window.

According to Auburn Fire Department Assistant Chief Ralph LaGrett, a second-floor apartment ceiling light shorted-out, causing a fire that quickly spread to the ceiling joists and into the insulation in the attic.

Tara Sathre, who lives in the second floor apartment, said she smelled smoke four hours prior.

“It smelled like someone was burning trash or something, so I didn't think anything of it,” she said.

Around 5 p.m., first-floor tenant Anna Van Holtz and Sathre went out to look for Van Holtz's puppy that had run away.

When they came back they saw smoke billowing from the attic window.

Van Holtz's boyfriend and son were in their first floor apartment when the fire broke out; there were no injuries.

LaGrett said a passerby called in the fire. While it took firefighters 10 minutes to gain control of the blaze, LaGrett said it would have been an entirely different situation had the fire broken out in the middle of the night.

Firefighters placed tarps on top of the contents of the second floor apartment in an attempt to salvage residents' belongings. LaGrett said ceiling joists, the ceiling in a bedroom and one section of electrical wiring will need to be replaced. The residents will also need to have an electrical inspection.

There was no damage to the first floor apartment.