The aftermath of a kitchen fire in north Kitchener has firefighters reminding people what to do if something on their stove catches fire.
Firefighters were called to an apartment on Adelaide Street – near Belmont Avenue and Victoria Street – a little before 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
Crews arrived at the scene to find heavy smoke coming from the second-floor unit.
After extinguishing the fire, they learned that a pot of grease on the tenant’s stove had caught fire.
“The occupant attempted to move the pot to the balcony, and he ended up spilling the pot – causing the fire to extend to the living room and other parts of the unit,” said Andy O’Reilly of the Kitchener Fire Department.
The man was treated at the scene for minor burns.
Damage to his apartment is expected to top $50,000, while other parts of the building were damaged by smoke.
Firefighters say anyone trying to extinguish a burning pot on their stove should try to put it out without taking it off the stove, or possibly put the lid back on to cut off air flow.
“Trying to move a burning pot of oil is never a good idea,” O’Reilly said.
