A cooking error caused a fire in a multi-family, two-story apartment complex last week, resulting in $10,000 in structure and contents damages, according to the Mountain View Fire Department.
Fire units responded to a 6:16 p.m. 9-1-1 call April 30 of a stove fire in an apartment unit of a complex in the 2200 block of California Street, close to Rengstorff Park and the San Antonio Shopping Center.
Units arrived at 6:21 p.m. to an active fire originating from the kitchen of a second-floor apartment, according to a MVFD press release. All occupants had self-evacuated prior to MVFD’s arrival, and during the incident the Mountain View Police Department closed off eastbound lanes of California Street for 30 minutes as the scene was active.
Firefighters extinguished the flames using a water fire extinguisher. Officials also conducted an overhaul of the ceiling above and near the stovetop to ensure the flames had been completely extinguished, according to the press release. The apartment unit occupants were allowed to return after the incident.
As cooking fires are the leading cause of home injuries and fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association, MVFD encourages everyone to be careful when cooking or using the stove.
Tips provided by the MVFD included staying in the kitchen when food is cooking and keeping items that can catch fire (packaging, towels, curtains, mitts and wooden cooking utensils) away from stovetops. In the case of a fire, flames should be smothered with a lid and turning off the burner; when in doubt, call 9-1-1.
