[Press Release] : Unattended cooking

[pr-l at news.gocolumbiamo.com]

You have received this message because you subscribe to the City of
Columbia's Web Mail service. To view linked material click on provided
links or copy and paste them into your browser's address menu.
______________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Gary L. Warren, Jr. - (573) 874-7644 

Unattended cooking causes noon fire at 901 Ashland Road

COLUMBIA, MO (June 5, 2006) -- Columbia firefighters responded to a
report of a commercial structure fire at 901 Ashland Rd. at 12:47 p.m.
on June 3. Initial reports indicated a fire in the kitchen called in by
the occupant, who evacuated the residence. Responding crews from nearby
Columbia Fire Station 3 could see smoke shortly after leaving the
station. 

Fire crews found heavy smoke showing from the front door of the
residence as they arrived on the scene. Nine Columbia fire apparatus
consisting of three engines, one rescue squad, one ladder, two chief
officers, one investigator and a public information officer responded to
the scene.

Firefighters made an aggressive interior attack on the kitchen fire,
extinguishing it in less than five minutes. During fire fighting
activities, the crew of Ladder 1 (Lt. Meinert, Firefighter Roush and
Firefighter Fansler) rescued an Iguana, two exotic birds and another
reptile from the burning residence.

Fire investigators on the scene later attributed the fire to unattended
cooking in the kitchen. The occupant (Will Morris) later recalled
smelling something burning and seeing a fire in his kitchen when he
investigated. The occupant and his pets had no injuries during the fire.
Fire investigators estimated the initial dollar loss at $15,000.

The Columbia Fire Department would like to remind everyone that you
should never leave food unattended while cooking. 

- 30 -
______________________________________________________

Archived press releases can be viewed online at: 
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Public_Comm/Public_Information/Press_Releases/

______________________________________________________

If you would like to stop receiving messages, modify list options, or
subscribe to other lists visit the Web Mail section of our Web site and
follow the instructions provided. 

http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Web_Mail/index.php