Red Deer Emergency Services at 31 Bennett St. across Bower Place on Thursday afternoon for a small kitchen fire. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

By Alessia Proietti

Fire Prevention Week

Unattended pot on stove likely cause of small fire in Bower apartment suite, fire officials say

Sep 22, 2023 | 3:13 PM

A fire in a Bower apartment suite on Thursday appears to have been caused by an unattended pot on a stove, according to fire officials.

Tyler Pelke, Deputy Chief for Red Deer Emergency Services (RDES), said the call arrived at around 4:15 p.m. at 31 Bennett St., a three-storey multiple family residence across Bower Place, after the fire alarm system was activated.

He confirmed no one was in the suite at the time and everyone in the building was evacuated safely with no injuries reported.

Pelke added that roughly 25 firefighter-paramedics and supporting agencies arrived quickly on scene, containing the fire to just the kitchen area.

Ken Rosgen, RDES Fire Safety Codes Officer/Fire Investigator, says the damage estimate is around $50,000.

christopher gardner

New principal named at The Brick Learning Centre in Ponoka

8h ago

Contract decision

Red Deer city council to make decision on future of ambulance services on May 12

9h ago

comfort for victims and many more

Lacombe Police welcome 'Rally' the support dog

10h ago

He added that one lesson people can learn is through this year’s Fire Prevention Week from October 8-14.

The annual campaign, sponsored by the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) for over 100 years, has a theme this year of “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.”

The theme aims to educate the public about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe when cooking.

According to the NFPA, cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires, with nearly half involving cooking equipment, and of home fire injuries. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires and deaths.

Rosgen shared tips from the NFPA to always keep a close eye on what’s cooking, set timers for things with longer cooking times, clear cooking areas of combustible items or anything that can burn like oven mitts, turn pot handles towards the back of the stove, and create a kid and pet free zone by keeping them at least one metre away from the cooking area. Lastly, in case of a small grease fire, he advised to keep a lid close by to slide onto the pan and turn off the burner.

by Alessia Proietti

Unattended pot on stove likely cause of small fire in Bower apartment suite, fire officials say

What's Trending