AURORA | A cooking-related fire substantially damaged a south Aurora home Wednesday night, forcing residents out of the house.
Firefighters were called about 6:30 p.m. to a house on the 400 block of South Lima Circle after 911 callers reported a house on fire.
The first arriving crew saw flames and smoke coming from the rear of the top level of the home, with occupants standing in the front yard, fire officials said in a statement.
Firefighters discovered a kitchen fire that had extended into the attic. No on was found inside the house, and the fire was brought under control at 6:57 p.m., about 17 minutes after the initial call, fire officials said.
No injuries were reported. The fire caused “significant damage” to the kitchen and attic, Aurora Fire and Rescue spokesperson Eric Hurst said in a statement. Two adults and two children were displaced but did not request assistance from the American Red Cross.
The fire drew 15 fire and medical units and about 40 personnel from Aurora Fire Rescue, Aurora Police and Falck Rocky Mountain responded. Investigators said the fire was “ an accidental kitchen fire and related to cooking,” Hurst said.
Hurst said that cooking is the leading cause of home fires and urged residents not to leave cooking unattended, to keep combustible items, such as pot holders, away from heat sources and to ensure working smoke alarms are installed on every level of a home and in sleeping areas.
Glad that everyone went outside where theyvould be safe.
When frying, we keep a large pan lid nearby to cover the pan if the oil catches fire.
Used it once to put out a fire and then moved the pan to an unused burner!
We also keep a small ABC fire extinguisher inside the doorway to the kitchen.