Middleburg House Fire Caused by Unattended Cooking

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A house fire in Middleburg on Jan. 19 was caused by unattended food cooking on the stove, according to The Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office.

Loudoun County Emergency Communications Center received multiple 9-1-1 calls for a reported house fire in the 22000 block of Foxhound Lane at about 3:30 p.m.

Fire and rescue crews from Middleburg, Aldie, Philomont, Round Hill, South Riding, Purcellville, Hamilton and Fauquier County responded to the incident. When firefighters arrived on the scene they encountered smoke coming from the front of the two-story, single family residence. Firefighters quickly located and extinguished a small fire in the kitchen area on the home. The occupants, after being alerted by their smoke alarms, were located safely outside upon arrival of fire and rescue crews.

One first responder was transported to a local area hospital for evaluation and subsequently released shortly thereafter. There were no injuries to any civilians.

Damages to the residence were limited mainly to the kitchen area, with minor smoke damage on the first floor, and are estimated at $5,000.

According to Loudoun County Fire & Rescue (LCFR), cooking equipment is the leading cause of fires in the home and the third leading cause of home fire deaths in recent years.

Follow these safety tips to avoid a cooking related fire in your home, according to LCFR:

· Stay in the kitchen while cooking on the stove top. If you leave the kitchen, even briefly, turn off the stove. If baking, roasting, or broiling, set a timer to remind you that food is cooking.

· Keep flammables, such as oven mitts, utensils, food packaging, or towels, away from your stovetop.

· Maintain a three foot safety zone for kids around the stove and hot appliances. Turn pot handles away so young children cannot reach a cooking pot and get burned.

If a fire starts:

· On the stove top, slide a lid on the pan to smother the flames and turn off the burner. Do not remove the lid until the pan is completely cooled. Never pour water on a grease fire!

· For an oven fire, immediately turn off the heat and close the oven door.

· When in doubt, get out then call 9-1-1! Close the door behind you to help contain the fire.

· Working smoke alarms provide an early warning if there is a fire in your home. Keep smoke alarms connected while cooking and test them monthly.