Cooking Oil Likely Cause of Tuesday Home Fire

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue officials are investigating a fire that broke out Tuesday morning in a mobile home on Dacca Drive.

Fire rescue received a 911 call just before 11 a.m. about the blaze. When firefighters arrived on the scene, the home was “heavily involved with flames,” an email from department spokeswoman Jessica Coy said.

The fire was brought under control within about 15 minutes.

While firefighters were working, the owner returned home and confirmed there were no people or pets inside. Shortly thereafter, the owner’s daughter returned home and told officials she had been cooking with oil before leaving for work, Coy wrote.

Fire departments across the United States respond to an average of 156,600 home fires that involve cooking equipment yearly, Coy said. These fires are blamed for an estimated 400 deaths a year and more than 5,000 injuries. Damages add up to about $853 million.

Photo Credit: The remains of the home at 4910 Dacca Drive. Photo courtesy of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue