Three Structure Fires Last Night….Busy, Busy, Busy

Between 8pm and 3am last night Contra Costa County Fire Protection District crews responded to three working structure fires. Details of each incident follow:

36 Bai Gorry Place, Walnut Creek, 8:05pm
Fire crews arrived within 5 minutes of being dispatched to a residential care facility and found a kitchen fire that had extended into the cabinets above the stove. Fire crews quickly extinguished the fire and other crews immediately went to work evacuating, triaging, and caring for the 5 elderly residents of the care home. All residents were assisted out of the home by firefighters and evaluated by firefighter-paramedics at the scene. Additional AMR ambulances were requested for possible transport to the hospital and to assist with medical relocation to other care homes. One resident was transported to a local hospital with complaints of difficulty breathing, but the other residents were able to be placed in alternative care facilities in the area. The fire started in the kitchen and is considered an accidental fire. The alarm and notification system in the care facility was working at the time of our arrival. Damage was estimated at approximately $40,000 to the structure. The complete first alarm complement of fifteen firefighters and two chief officers was used to mitigate this complex incident involving several potential patients. Crews were tied up at the scene for approximately two hours.

35 W. 20th Street, Antioch, 11:20pm

Fire crews arrived within 5 minutes to this two story apartment building to find light smoke coming from one of the downstairs units. Bystanders reported that everyone was out of the building. Fire crews waited for the second engine to arrive to establish the required “2-in, 2-out” safety protocol since there was no indication of anyone needing rescue inside the building. The crews initiated an interior attack and found an active kitchen fire in one of the first floor units. The fire was contained within 7 minutes of arrival. A search of the building was conducted to confirm there were no occupants still inside. The full first alarm assignment of 17 firefighters in three engines, two ladder trucks, and two chief officers was used on this incident. Fire crews remained on scene conducting overhaul and salvage until after 1am. Damage estimates were not immediately available.

10 The Trees Drive, Concord, 2:41am

Fire crews again arrived in less than 5 minutes of being dispatched to this incident. Upon their arrival, the first crew found a single story storage and maintenance structure fully involved with fire. Crews immediately went to work protecting the exposed buildings surrounding the involved structure. Once the exposure protection was established, crews began attacking the fire from the exterior and eventually made their way into the structure to control the fire. The structure was significantly damaged, but firefighters were able to save all the adjacent buildings from any damage. The full first alarm assignment of 17 firefighters in three engines, two ladder trucks, and two chief officers was used on this incident. Crews remained on the scene for over two hours. Damage estimates were not immediately available and the cause of the fire is undetermined.

Kitchen Fire Prevention and Safety Tips

Kitchen fires are the leading cause of fires in single family homes and residential occupancies. They are also preventable. Make sure you don’t leave cooking unattended. Also, don’t place any combustible materials near stoves, ranges, and ovens. Ovens and other appliances should be cleaned regularly and even more frequently if you regularly cook with oil, fats, or grease. Taking these simple steps will greatly reduce the chances of having a fire in your kitchen.

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