Kitchen Fire Damages Dumfries Apartment; No Injuries Reported

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A sprinkler system put out a fire that broke out in the kitchen of a Dumfries apartment Wednesday afternoon, causing about $5,000 in damage.

There were no injuries reported in the blaze, but a building inspector posted two units in the complex as unsafe, according to the Prince William County fire department.

At about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, fire and rescue crews were dispatched to the fire at a row of apartments in the 17000 block of Islip Loop in Dumfries, the fire department said. As they entered the complex, they went to the kitchen of the unit where the fire originated.

They saw that the apartment’s sprinkler system had been activated, suppressing and extinguishing the fire, the department said. Smoke remained throughout the unit with minor fire damage.

The Prince William Fire Marshal’s Office determined that the fire originated on the kitchen stove, and it was accidental.

Prince William County Fire and Rescue Chief Kevin McGee reminds residents that cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and injuries. When cooking, ”Look When You Cook” by:

• Staying in the kitchen while you are cooking;
• Using a timer to remind you that you are cooking;
• Turn off the stove, if you leave the kitchen even for a short period of time;
• Keep anything that can catch fire away from your stove, i.e. oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains;
• NEVER throw water on a grease fire! If possible, cover the pot/pan with a lid to smother the fire and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled;
• For oven fires, turn off the heat and keep the door closed;
• For microwave fires, leave the door closed, turn the oven off and unplug it from the wall;
• If the fire does not go out, get outside and call 911.