The first two weeks of August brought another steady run of apartment kitchen fires from coast to coast. Here’s a look at five recent incidents.
Salinas, California — August 7
A fire broke out in the kitchen area of a Salinas apartment on Friday, according to fire officials. Crews responded and worked to keep the fire from spreading beyond the unit where it started. The blaze began in the kitchen, consistent with the pattern that plays out in apartment cooking fires again and again.
Springfield, Massachusetts — August 8
Eleven residents were displaced and three cats were rescued after a fire at a Springfield apartment. Fire officials determined the fire broke out from unattended cooking. Crews worked to contain the fire and account for occupants, and the American Red Cross stepped in to assist those displaced from their homes.
St. George, Utah — August 10
An accidental kitchen fire displaced seven people from a St. George apartment. The fire started in the apartment’s kitchen and was ruled accidental by investigators. Crews contained the fire, but the displaced residents were left needing somewhere to stay while the damage was assessed.
Springfield, Missouri — August 10
Crews battled a fire at the Beartown Townhomes near the Missouri State University campus Monday night, near East Madison Street and South Roanoke Avenue. According to the Springfield Fire Department, the fire started on a stove in an apartment and began to spread, though most of the damage was contained to a single unit. All residents got out of the building safely and no one was hurt.
Vero Beach, Florida — August 12
A fire displaced five adults and four children from a Vero Beach apartment on Woodland Circle. Fire officials said the fire started in the kitchen from a pot on the stove. Crews contained the blaze, but nine people, including four children, were left displaced from their home.
Five fires in under a week. In Salinas, a fire in the kitchen area. In Springfield, Massachusetts, unattended cooking that displaced eleven. In St. George, an accidental kitchen fire that put seven people out of their homes. In Springfield, Missouri, a stove fire near a college campus. In Vero Beach, a pot left on the stove that displaced a family of nine. Different states, same starting point.
If you want to see how FireBot stops a kitchen fire at the stove before it spreads, take a look at firebotssuppression.com.