[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Cooking Fire Damages Columbia Home

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Battalion Chief Steven Sapp
(573)-874-7557  Office
(573)-499-7035  Media Pager (Enter number to dial, no voice mail please)

Cooking Fire Damages Columbia Home

COLUMBIA, MO (June 27, 2011) - Columbia Fire Fighters responded to 501 Westridge at 9:00 PM on Monday, June 27, 2011 after 9-1-1 received a report of a cooking fire.

Fire fighters arrived to find smoking coming from the residence and discovered a fire in the kitchen area around the stove. Fire fighters extinguished the fire in under 5 minutes.

Columbia Fire investigators determined the fire began in a pan on the stove when the residents believed they had turned off the burner after cooking, when in fact the burner was turned to the "High" position. The residents left the kitchen after thinking they turned off the burner and discovered the fire when they smelled smoke. The residents, two women and a child, evacuated the residence upon discovering the fire. 

Fire investigators found a smoke alarm in the residence with the battery removed which disabled the smoke alarm.

Fire and smoke damage was confined primarily to the kitchen stove and cabinets above the stove. Damage to the structure and contents is estimated at $5,000.00. There were no injuries.

Fire fighters remind everyone that a working smoke alarm increases your chances of survival when fire strikes by over 70%. Especially at night when people are sleeping, a working smoke alarm is your first warning to evacuate the building. You can ensure your smoke alarm is working by testing the alarm once a month by depressing the test button; clean the smoke alarm monthly with a dry cloth; and change the battery once a year. If your smoke alarm is over 10 years old, replace the smoke alarm. In addition to working smoke alarms, make sure your family has planned and practiced a family fire escape plan and review the plan for changes at least once a year.

 

# # #


 -30- 

______________________________________________________

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.
______________________________________________________

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/
______________________________________________________

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/