Another Escambia Fire Means 13th Red Bulb In Safety Campaign

December 23, 2010

There are now 13 bulbs representing residential fires in Escambia County in the “Keep the Wreath Green’ fire safety campaign. None of the fires have been in North Escambia.

At 10:04 p.m. Wednesday, a fire was reported in the 1100 block of Vega Court. Firefighters arrived at 10:10 p.m. and found heavy fire in the kitchen which had extended to the attic. The cause of the fire, which was declared out at 10:29 p.m., was determined to be from something left on the stove.

The fire caused major damage to the kitchen and attic and moderate damage throughout the rest of the home. The American Red Cross was called to assist the two adults and two children that lived in the home. Firefighters from Osceola, Myrtle Grove, West Pensacola, Warrington and the Navy responded to the fire.

Escambia County Fire Rescue  offers the following safety tips involving cooking:

  • The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.
  • Stay in the kitchen when 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’re cooking.
  • Stay alert! To prevent cooking fires, you have to be alert. You won’t be if you are sleepy, have been drinking alcohol, or have taken medicine that makes you drowsy.
  • Keep anything that can catch fire – potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, towels, or curtains – away from your stovetop.
  • Keep the stovetop, burners, and oven clean.
  • Keep pets off cooking surfaces and nearby countertops to prevent them from knocking things onto the burner.
  • Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire if it comes into contact with a gas flame or electric burner.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News