Fire Department

Firefighters were called to an apartment to check out an extinguished cooking fire that injured one person. Ladder Co. 2 found fire damage in a main hallway of the residential unit. One resident told firefighters they were heating up grease to make French fries, then stepped away from the stove and went to another room. Eventually they heard the smoke detector begin to alarm and returned to find the pan of grease on fire. The occupant tried to carry the burning pan outside, but the heat forced them to drop the pan before reaching the door. Another occupant came downstairs and doused the fire with salt, extinguishing the fire prior to firefighters’ arrival.

Though the hot pan and spilled grease caused damage to the linoleum floor, there was no other fire extension. One person was treated and assessed for burn injuries but did not require hospitalization.

Safety Tip: When cooking on the stovetop, always keep a lid nearby. If a grease fire happens, immediately cover the pan with a lid and turn off the burner if you can safely do so. This deprives the fire of oxygen and takes away the heat source. Throwing salt or baking soda on the fire may also work, but not always as quickly or effectively as placing a lid on the pan. Never throw water or flour on a grease fire.

A fire doubles in size every 30 seconds. If a fire has grown beyond your control, immediately evacuate the building and call 911.