Forgotten Butter Sparks Fire In Hopatcong

HOPATCONG, NJ — A forgotten pat of butter in a frying pan sparked a fire Monday night in Hopatcong, police said.

A Chincopee Ave woman was planning on cooking around 4 p.m. Monday afternoon, police said, when she put some butter in a frying pan and turned the stove on. She forgot about it, police said, and it caught on fire.

An officer was able to grab the frying pan with a pot holder and extinguish it in the sink, police said.

Police warned residents to always be careful when cooking.

"We just reported on a similar incident where the kitchen did catch on fire. It is important to have baking soda near your stove which can knock down or put out a grease fire. And of course a fire extinguisher," Hopatcong Capt. Tom Kmetz said.

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