Unattended Stove Causes Annandale House Fire: Fire Department

Firefighters battled a fire Saturday afternoon that did $47,000 worth of damage to a home in Annandale, according to the fire department.

The fire department responded to the house fire Saturday at approximately 1:30 p.m., in the Annandale area of Fairfax County. The single-family home is located at 3911 Wyndhill Dr.

Smoke and fire was billowing from the two-story home when firefighters arrived. Firefighters conducted an aggressive fire attack and brought the fire under control in approximately 10 minutes. The home had working smoke alarms. One occupant was displaced and was offered Red Cross support but it was declined. There were no injuries.

According to fire investigators, the fire was accidental. Unattended food left on the stove caused the fire.

Kitchen Safety Tips

• Have a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
• Wear short or tight fitting sleeves when cooking. Long loose sleeves are more likely to catch on fire or get caught on pot handles.
• Keep things that can catch fire such as dish towels, curtains, or paper, at least three feet away from the stove.
• Do not leave cooking food unattended. If you leave the kitchen, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
• Turn pot handles inward, facing the wall to prevent burns caused by overturning or spills.
• Pot holders or oven mitts prevent burns when handling hot dishes.
• Regularly clean your cooking equipment so that there are no cooking materials, food items or grease accumulation.
• Always keep an oven mitt and lid nearby when you are cooking. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, put on an oven mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. Do not remove the lid until it is completely cool.
• If there is an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you and your clothing. Have the oven serviced before you use it again.