Food on stove sparks NE Bend apartment fire

A delivery driver who heard a smoke alarm Tuesday morning called 911 and brought firefighters to a northeast Bend apartment where a resident left a pot on the stove and the stove on. The smoky kitchen fire caused $7,000 in damage and led to the evacuation of neighbors, officials said.

Firefighters were called out around 10:15 a.m. to the 14-unit apartment complex at 415 NE Norton Avenue, said Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki. They found the apartment full of smoke and the fire in the kitchen was quickly extinguished.

A pot was left on the stove and the stove was left on by the resident before leaving for work, Derlacki said.

Damage was limited to the one apartment, where no one was home at the time. Because of the smoke, most of the resident’s clothing and contents are considered a loss, Derlacki said.

Cooking related fires are one of the leading causes of fires in the home.

Cooking safety tips:

The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking

If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, stay in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking

Keeping things that can catch fire away from cooking surfaces

Keep the stove top, burners and oven clean at all times

Wear short, close-fitting, or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and can catch fire if it comes in contact with a gas flame or an electric burner

General Kitchen Safety Tips:

Keeping Children and Pets Away from the Cooking Area, at least 3 feet

Never hold a child while you are cooking

Always use cooking equipment that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory

Always supervise children when they are using the microwave oven

Use only microwave-safe cookware (containers or dishes)

Open microwaved food slowly and away from the face

What to Do If You Have a Cooking Fire:

Always keep a lid nearby when you are cooking to smother a cooking fire

Never pour water on a cooking pan grease fire

Baking soda can work to extinguish grease fires if sprinkled on top of the fire

In case of an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed until it is cool

When in doubt, just get out! Close the door behind you to help contain the fire

After you leave, call 9-1-1 or the fire department from a cell phone or a neighbor’s telephone