Cooking Oil Causes Kitchen Fire on Valleyview Drive

MERRIMACK, NH - Merrimack Fire and Rescue teams quick extinguished a kitchen fire last night on Valleyview Drive, according to Fire Marshal John Manuele.

Merrimack Engines 1 and 2, Ambulance 1, Fire Chief Currier, Assistant Chief Borneman and Manuele were all called to the home at just after 6 p.m. on April 13, 2016. Merrimack Engine 1, under the command of Captain Dubriel, arrived on scene at 6:11 p.m. and reported a kitchen fire in a split entry style home, and requested a full structure fire dispatch. The homeowner reported that both occupants were out of the home at the time of the fire, according to Manuele.

"The homeowner was in the process of heating cooking oil in a wok, stepped away from the stove for several minutes, and heard the smoke detector begin sounding," he noted in a statement. "He found that the oil had ignited and began burning the wall, over the stove exhaust hood and cabinets."

The homeowner got his wife out of the house, called 911, and then removed their 13 pet dogs before evacuating himself, according to the report.

"Fire personnel made a quick knock down of the fire and began venting smoke from the home," Manuele said. "After ensuring the fire had not spread into the wall and removing water from the kitchen, the home was turned back over to the homeowner. Damage was limited to the stove, exhaust hood, wall and cabinets above the stove, and some smoke damage throughout the upper floor."

The occupants were assessed for smoke inhalation; one was treated and transported to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center. Fire personnel completed overhaul and cleared the scene at just after 7 p.m. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, due to a pan of oil being left on the stove unattended, Manuele stated.