Unattended Food on Kitchen Stove Fuels Smoke

Food left unattended on a kitchen stove in the 7800 block of Woodrow Place in Cabin John is to blame for this morning's smoke, said Capt. Oscar Garcia of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.

Shortly after 9 a.m., firefighters arrived on the scene of a single-family home to smoke coming from the right side of the house, Garcia said. They quickly ascertained the smoke was from food left unattended on the kitchen stove, and that it had not spread beyond the kitchen.

Firefighters are assisting with setting up fans to get rid of the smoke, Garcia said.

It is not known at this time if any occupants were in the home when the smoke was detected.

Kitchen fires are a big issue in Montgomery County, Garcia said.

"Pretty much the number one reason whey we to go a fire. We see kitchen fires pretty much every day."

Garcia said that residents can often be distracted when cooking. Incidents involving children cooking and busy parents result in distractions, when then lead to food left unattended on a stove in use.

"Parents get distracted—doesn't take much to start a fire," Garcia said.

He added that in some cases the smoke and/or fire will be contained only to the stovetop. However, flames can move from the stove to the kitchen cabinets and then involve the rest of the kitchen—possibly spreading to other parts of the home.

Garcia encourages residents to turn off their stoves if they need to leave the kitchen. Removing heat by turning off the stove can aid in the prevention of a possible fire, he said.