[Press Release] : Unattended cooking cause of late evening fire

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Battalion Chief Gary L. Warren Jr. - (573) 499-7035 

Unattended cooking cause of late evening fire

COLUMBIA, MO (April 10, 2008) - A fire broke out in the kitchen of
Linda Bieg’s home, 710 Mikel St., while she was on the phone just
before 10 p.m. 

A university ambulance crew was first to arrive on the scene and
firefighters arrived just a few minutes later to find smoke coming from
the front door of the residence. Firefighters were able to quickly
extinguish the fire but not before it burned the cabinets and extended
into the attic.

The resident recalled talking to a friend on the phone at the time the
fire started. She was deep frying fish in oil and thought that she had
only left the kitchen for a few minutes. Moments later she noticed a
flickering light coming from the kitchen. When she investigated the
kitchen stove and cabinets were on fire. She then attempted to
extinguish the fire by throwing salt on the pan and removing it from the
stove. While removing the pan she dropped it causing the fire to spread.
The resident then called 9-1-1 as she evacuated the house. Firefighters
received initial information that the resident was burned, however she
was uninjured when they arrived.

Investigators on the scene stated that the initial damage to the
structure and contents is estimated at $50,000, however, there is smoke
damage throughout and firefighters will have to do thorough overhaul to
ensure the fire is completely out in the attic, which will result in the
estimate increasing. 

The Columbia Fire Department would like to remind residents to not
leave cooking food unattended and in the event of a fire on the stove
try to cover the pan with a lid or throw flower on it if it is a small
fire. If you can do so without being burned try to turn off the burner
and only after the fire has gone out remove the pan from the heat
source. NEVER try to throw water on a grease or oil fire as this will
cause to fire to spread and possibly burn you. Residents should also
keep an extinguisher near the kitchen for use in an emergency.

- 30 -
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