Beaverton Fire Forces Family from Home

A family of four in Beaverton is safe after a fire destroyed their kitchen. It happened just after midnight on the 13000 block of Berthold Street.

Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue was called just after midnight. The fire started in the kitchen and smoke had spread through the house.

An adult, three children, and a pet had safely made it out of the house. The American Red Cross-Cascades Region responded as well, providing the immediate basic needs of those affected such as temporary housing, food, clothing, comfort kits, information about recovery services, and health and mental health services.

Investigators determined that the fire was the result of cooking.

TVF&R says that cooking fires are the leading cause of residential fires. To reduce your risk, we recommend the following safe cooking tips:

• Keep a close eye on what you're cooking.
• Never leave food unattended on the stovetop.
• Heat cooking oil slowly and never leave it unattended. Turn down the heat if it begins to smoke.
• Keep combustibles away from the stove, and keep your cooking area clean, including the exhaust fan, oven and stovetop.
• Keep a large lid close at hand in case of a pan fire.
• If the fire is still in the pan or oven and has not spread to nearby counters or cabinets, you may be able to extinguish it yourself.
• If you experience a cooking fire, and the fire is large or appears to be growing, do not attempt to extinguish it. Leave the house quickly and call 911 from a cellphone or neighbor's house.

To extinguish a pan or oven fire:

• Put a lid on it. The easiest way to extinguish a small pan fire is with a pan lid. Turn off the burner and carefully slide a pan lid over the pan from the side. The lid will smother the fire. Do not move the pan until the fire is completely extinguished and the pan is cool. If you do not have a pan lid, you may also use a baking sheet or pizza pan.
• Use a fire extinguisher only if the fire is small and has not spread outside the pan. The discharge of a portable fire extinguisher lasts between eight and 10 seconds.
• Shut the door on oven or microwave fires and turn off the heat.

Photo courtesy Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue