Food Left on Stove Causes Centreville House Fire

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Unattended food cooking on a stove in the basement caused a fire Tuesday that damaged a single-family house in Centreville, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.

There were no injuries in the blaze, the fire department said, and damage to the home is estimated at $43,750.

Firefighters responded at about 12:50 p.m. to the fire at 14201 Hartwood Court, where they encountered smoke and flames coming from the basement. They quickly brought the fire under control.

Three occupants were home when the fire broke out and escaped unharmed; however, there were no working smoke alarms in the home, the fire department said. The occupants have not been displaced.

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department offers these kitchen safety tips:

• Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 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 3 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.