The JCC Fire Marshal’s investigation has determined that this morning’s house fire started in the kitchen. One of the residents reportedly began heating a pan of oil on the stove then went into another room. Another member of the household saw thick black smoke and alerted everyone in the house. Smoke alarms inside the residence were not working.
Unattended cooking is the #1 cause of house fires in James City County. These cooking safety tips can help you prevent tragedy in your home:
• Never leave the kitchen while something is frying, grilling, sautéing or broiling.
• Keep your stovetop clean. Oils and grease are flammable and old spills can ignite.
• Be alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove.
• If you do have a small grease fire while cooking you can put a lid on it to smother the flames. NEVER pour water on a grease fire.
Be prepared for any type of house fire and make sure you have working smoke alarms that are less than ten years old. If you do not have smoke alarms, or are unsure if they work, call Fire Administration at 757-220-0626 to have a fire crew visit your home. For more information on how to maintain your smoke alarms visit www.jamescitycountyva.gov/fire
Media Contact: Chief Ryan Ashe
757-592-1437; ryan.ashe@jamescitycountyva.gov