5 People Displaced By Lincolnia Townhouse Fire

LINCOLNIA, VA — Five people were displaced after a fire caused by unattended cooking at a Lincolnia townhouse this past Friday, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue says.

The fire happened around 12:52 p.m. at a townhouse in the 4500 block of Southland Avenue. An initial report indicated there was a person unaccounted for, but the fire department learned the person was safe at another location. No one was home when the fire started, and there were no injuries.

Fairfax County and Alexandria fire units responded and found fire showing from the back of a middle-unit townhouse. A second alarm was requested, bringing in Arlington County firefighters, and the fire was contained to the originating home.

Investigators determined the fire's cause was unattended cooking on the stove. According to the fire department, a resident cooking on the stove left home to run an errand. Another resident arrived home and found smoke coming from underneath the front door. The resident helped the dog out and called 911. It was unclear if the home's smoke alarms sounded.

Damages were estimated to be $77,747. The displaced residents accepted Red Cross assistance.

In light of the fire, Fairfax County and Rescue urged residents to use caution when cooking.

Here are some tips from the fire department:

• Have a "kid-free zone" of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drinks are 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.