Cooking fire displaces Shawnee family

Posted: July 22, 2019 - 5:09 p.m.

Firefighters from Shawnee, Overland Park, and Lenexa were called to a house fire just after 8:30 Monday morning in Shawnee.

Shawnee firefighters made quick work of the fire
and began ventilating smoke from the house.
Photos ©Mike Frizzell - Operation 100 News

Arriving firefighters reported fire showing from the second level screened-in deck of the home at 7307 Earnshaw Street.

Shawnee Fire Marshal Corey Sands says the fire was "moving rapidly" towards the interior of the home.

"The family members were able to escape the house fire without injury and Shawnee fire crews put a quick stop to the fire," Sands said.

Fire investigators determined the resident had been cooking on the screened-in deck with a propane fed burner. The resident went back inside the home to prepare more food, then smelled smoke and found the fire on the deck.

"The leading cause of fires in Shawnee and across the nation is unattended cooking," Sands said. "It is always important to stay in the area you are cooking in."

Firefighters make sure the fire on the back screened-in deck is out.

Damage to the home is estimated at $150,000. The displaced residents are staying with family for the time being.

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VIDEO: Cooking fire damages JoCo apartment

Posted: April 30, 2013 - 10:40pm
Updated: May 1, 2013 - 2:37am

Aerial image of the apartment complex
Click image to view larger

Crews from three area fire departments extinguished an apartment fire Tuesday evening in Johnson County.

Firefighters were called shortly after 6:30 p.m. to the Four Winds Apartments, located at 10222 W. 80th Street in Overland Park.

Arriving firefighters reported smoke visible from a first floor of the two story apartment building, which was being evacuated on arrival.

The fire was located in a kitchen and was quickly extinguished by firefighters.

A news release says the resident of the damaged apartment told fire investigators that she was cooking and had a grease fire on the stove. She attempted to put it out with flour and then a fire extinguisher, but the fire was too big. She got out of the apartment and called 911.

No injuries were reported and only one unit was uninhabitable Tuesday night.

Crews from the Lenexa Fire Department and Merriam Fire Department also assisted on the fire.

Overland Park Fire says you should keep a cookie sheet near your stove and in the event of a fire, slide it over the top of the pan that is on fire. This will smother the fire. Do not move the pan or put anything else on the fire. Cover the fire, get out and call 911.

More fire safety information and videos can be found on the city's website, www.opkansas.org.

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Local Fire Departments promoting safe holiday cooking practices this Thanksgiving

Posted: November 20, 2012 - 1:30pm

Area Fire Departments are reminding residents to use caution when cooking this Thanksgiving.

The National Fire Protection Association says that Thanksgiving Day remains the number one day for home cooking fires in the United States. Home cooking fires peak on major holidays that traditionally include Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Deep fried turkeys are a popular Thanksgiving treat but, outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers create serious safety concerns:

• Hot oil may spill onto the open burner and create fire - Some fryers has as much as 35 quarts of oil.
• Cooking oil may be heated beyond its cooking temperatures and the vapors can ignite.
• The fryer can easily tip over and spill hot, scalding oil onto anyone or anything nearby.
• The fryer's sides, lids and handles get extremely hot and can cause severe burns.

The Olathe Fire Department provided this video which shows a partially frozen turkey being placed in a propane-fueled fryer and the ensuing reaction of hot oil bubbling out of the fryer and onto the burner. The Fire Department says the spilled oil is hot enough to cause third degree burns in less than one second.

The Underwriters Laboratory Inc., a global product safety testing and certification source with more than a century of experience, does not certify any turkey fryer with the trusted UL mark.

Olathe Fire Captain and Fire Education Association of Kansas President Mike Hall says, "Help ensure a safer Thanksgiving holiday by leaving deep fried turkeys to the culinary professionals."

Information provided by the Olathe Fire Department.