At 2:57 p.m. on November 27, 2018, the Roseburg Fire Department was dispatched to a commercial structure fire at 2525 NE Stephens Street, Apartment #6. Multiple neighbors reported smoke showing inside the building with occupants being evacuated.
Firefighters arrived on scene to find smoke showing from outside the two-story structure. Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke and flames showing inside of apartment #6 with smoke throughout the hallway of the 2-story apartment complex. Firefighters checked the structure for occupants and quickly extinguished the fire. They were able to protect the surrounding apartments from further damage.
The fire was contained to the kitchen in apartment #6. According to fire investigators, the fire was caused by a frying pan left unattended on the kitchen stove. The commercial structure, which is valued at $3,800,000, suffered approximately $10,000 in smoke and structural damage. The occupant of the apartment was not injured. The American Red Cross will be assisting the tenant who is displaced due to the fire.
A total of 12 firefighters assisted with firefighting operations. Other agencies assisting with the fire included Umpqua Valley Ambulance, American Red Cross, Avista Utilities, Pacific Power, and the Roseburg Police Department.
The Roseburg Fire Department would like to remind everyone that the leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking. Remember to use the following safety tips to prevent cooking fires:
- Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, do not use the stove or stovetop.
- Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a
short period of time, turn off the stove.
- If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while
food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
- Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains
away from your stovetop.