Frying pan left on stove sparks kitchen fire in Roseburg apartment building
ROSEBURG, Ore. - A frying pan left unattended on a kitchen stove caught fire and filled the halls of a 2-story apartment complex with smoke Tuesday afternoon.
No one was injured.
The Roseburg Fire Department responded 2525 NE Stephens Street after neighbors reported smoke inside the building.
Residents evacuated as firefighters arrived on scene to find smoke coming from the building.
"Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke and flames showing inside of apartment #6 with smoke throughout the hallway of the 2-story apartment complex," the fire department said in a report. "Firefighters checked the structure for occupants and quickly extinguished the fire. They were able to protect the surrounding apartments from further damage."
Firefighters made sure everyone was out of the building and put out the fire.
The fire did an estimated $10,000 in damage.
The Roseburg Fire Department noted that the leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.
Firefighters recommend the following tips:
- Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, do not use the stove or stovetop.
- Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
- If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
- Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains away from your stovetop.
