Cooking Fire Damages La Grange Park Home

LA GRANGE PARK, IL – A cooking fire damaged an apartment Sunday night in La Grange Park, the local fire department said.

About 8:30 p.m., firefighters were summoned by an automatic alarm to the three-story, 27-unit apartment complex at 1639 Forest Road, according to the department's news release.

Firefighters noticed smoke coming from a second-floor apartment.

A person in the apartment was able to successfully put out the fire, which had spread to cabinets and other items in the kitchen, the department said.

Firefighters ventilated smoke from the apartment. No one was reported injured.

The damage was estimated at $1,750.

The fire department said the incident was a good reminder to practice cooking fire safety. It provided tips:

• Stay nearby when cooking on a stovetop, especially when using oil or grease is involved.
• Do not store combustibles close to the actual cooking area. If you must leave the area, turn the burners off.
• Never use water on a grease fire. If you have a fire in a pan, learn how to use the lid or cooking sheet to quickly put it out.
• Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.