Big Fire in Herndon Caused by Unattended Cooking: Authorities

HERNDON, VA — A fire erupted at a townhouse in Herndon early Thursday morning after food on the stove was left unattended, according to authorities.

Firefighters were called to the 800 block of Sycamore Court at around 1:43 a.m. April 27 to a report of a townhouse fire, according to a report from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.

Units arrived on the scene to find smoking showing at the front of a three-story end unit townhouse, and firefighters entered the home and found a fire burning in the first floor kitchen. They quickly extinguished the fire, which did not spread beyond the first floor.

Three adults and one child were living in the home at the time of the fire, and all had safely evacuated by the time the fire department got there. One of the occupants alerted the others after smelling something burning in the kitchen.

"The cause of the fire was accidental in nature and was caused by unattended food cooking on the stove," the report states.

Red Cross assistance was offered to the four occupants, who accepted. There were no firefighter injuries, however one civilian was taken to the hospital for evaluation.

The fire caused an estimated $25,000 in damage.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue reminded citizens of the following cooking 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.

Image via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue