NATCHEZ — Natchez Fire Department Capt. Aaron Wesley said a short in an electrical cord was to blame for a Friday evening fire at a North Rankin Street duplex.

Wesley said the cord, even after the fire was extinguished, continued to sizzle and spark and the building’s power had to be turned off.

The house, occupied by Delores Hardin, was not severely damaged in the fire.

The duplex’s other occupant was not home at the time of the fire.

Hardin said she was folding towels in her laundry room at the rear of the house just before the fire started.

“I went into the kitchen, and when I came back, I could smell something burning,” she said. “And then I saw the smoke.”

After the fire was extinguished, Hardin said she had an electrical cord used to power a radio in her bathroom.

Wesley said the cord was under a pile of clothes near the source of the fire.