On Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 7:04 a.m., a 9-1-1 call was received reporting an oven fire in a multi-family residence in the 300 block of Oaktree Drive. The occupants of the residence self-evacuated before firefighters arrived.
Fire units were dispatched at 7:05 a.m. and arrived on the scene at 7:09 a.m. Units arrived to find the sprinkler system activated in a first-floor apartment of a two-story multi-family residence. The ensuing heat from a cooking error in the oven rose to a level, causing the sprinkler to activate.
Firefighters discontinued the water flow from the sprinklers, used thermal imaging cameras to confirm there was no fire extension into the building, and performed salvage operations to remove water from the one affected unit that suffered water damage.
The fire was extinguished with no injuries. Property management relocated one resident to another apartment in the building. The building was turned over to facilities maintenance for continued repairs to the apartment.
The fire cause was determined to be accidental due to unattended cooking. The estimated damage to the contents and structure is $25,000. The Mountain View Police Department provided traffic control for 45 minutes while fire units and equipment were on the scene.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries. By following a few safety tips, you can prevent these fires.
• Stay in the kitchen while frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food.
• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.
• Smother flames on the stovetop by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner.
• Get out and call 9-1-1 if you have any doubts about extinguishing a small fire.
See all of the NFPA cooking tips at https://www.nfpa.org/education.
Media Contact
Robert Maitland, Fire Department PIO
650-903-6825 or robert.maitland@mountainview.gov
