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Chilliwack residents reminded to ‘stand by your pan’ after kitchen fire Tuesday

Unattended pot on stove leads to fire and smoke damage in McIntosh apartment unit
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The Chilliwack Fire Department (CFD) is reminding residents to always turn off stove elements when leaving the kitchen after an unattended pot led to an apartment fire on Tuesday.

It was at approximately 5 p.m. on June 18 when firefighters from five halls were dispatched to a report of a structure fire in an apartment complex in the 45000-block of McIntosh Drive.

Neighbours saw black smoke venting from several windows of the apartment and called the fire department.

On arrival firefighters reported seeing black smoke venting from a first floor apartment. Occupants were not home at the time of the fire, and neighbours had tried initiating fire control measures, according to the CFD.

Fire crews set up an offensive attack and quickly brought the fire under control, containing the damage to the suite of origin.

The interior of the apartment suffered minor fire and moderate smoke damage. One civilian received minor lacerations while accessing a fire extinguisher mounted in the hallway of the apartment complex, and was treated at the scene. There were no firefighter injuries.

The CFD reports the fire appeared to be accidental, caused by a pot left on the stove.

The public is reminded that the leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking. People should stay in the kitchen when frying, boiling, grilling or broiling food, and burners should be turned off when leaving the kitchen for any reason.

• RELATED: ‘Stand by your pan’ Chilliwack Fire Department warns after kitchen fire

• RELATED: Woman dies in accidental fire in Vancouver’s Yaletown


@PeeJayAitch
paul.henderson@theprogress.com

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