SEYMOUR – Seymour firefighters are reminding residents about the extreme dangers of cooking oil fires after an incident at a local home on Friday resulted in one person being burned and the rapid spread of flames.
According to the Seymour Fire Department, crews responded to a structure fire where smoke was visible from the residence upon their arrival. Firefighters quickly entered the home and located a fire in the dining room, which they extinguished within five minutes.
Investigators determined that a resident was cooking chicken in an oil-filled pot on the stove when the oil ignited. Another resident reportedly attempted to put out the fire by throwing water on it, which caused the flames to spread rapidly. The person who was cooking then tried to remove the flaming pot from the home but dropped it in the dining room due to the extreme heat. This caused the fire to expand quickly and resulted in burns to the individual.
One person received immediate treatment at the scene from Jackson County medics and was subsequently transported to Schneck Medical Center for further evaluation.
In light of the incident, the Seymour Fire Department is offering crucial safety tips for cooking with grease or oil:
- Always keep a watchful eye on the stove throughout the entire cooking process.
- If you observe wisps of smoke or detect the smell of burning oil, turn off the heat immediately.
- Keep a lid handy for your pot; if a fire starts, quickly slide the lid over the flames to smother them.
- Never throw water on a grease or oil fire.
- Exercise extreme caution when adding food to heated oil to prevent spattering of the hot liquid, which can ignite a fire.
In the event of a cooking fire, prioritize getting everyone safely out of the home first, then call 911 from outside the residence.
