Homosassa home a total loss due to fire caused by unattended cooking
Homosassa, Florida - At 10:12 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, Citrus County Fire Rescue responded to a residence on W. Woodland Place in Homosassa, due to the report of a fire. Firefighters arrived on scene to find a double wide mobile home fully involved with fire.
Firefighters conducted a 360-degree inspection of the property, and power lines on the side of the residence were identified as a hazard. Firefighters also confirmed that all occupants had evacuated the residence, and they established a defensive attack of the fire.
The fire was brought under control at 10:46 pm, and the last unit cleared the scene at 1:11 am. The residence was a total loss. No injuries were reported.
The fire is believed to be accidental, and evidence indicated that it began in the kitchen.
The resident advised fire personnel that he'd been cooking chicken in oil on the stove, and he also had items cooking in the microwave, on a piece of cardboard, when the occupants exited the residence and left the cooking foods unattended. When they returned inside the home to the kitchen, it was on fire, and the fire quickly spread throughout the residence.
Firefighters from the Homosassa, Sugarmill Woods, Connell Heights, and Kensington fire stations responded to the fire, along with a Safety Captain.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, cooking is the main cause of home fires and fire injuries. Ways you can prevent cooking fires:
• If you leave the kitchen, turn the burner off.
• Fires start when the heat is too high, so if you see any smoke, or the grease starts to boil, turn the burner off.
• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove, so no one can bump them or pull them over.
• Keep a pan lid or a baking sheet nearby, so you can use it to cover the pan, if it should catch on fire; this will put out the fire.
Citrus County Fire Rescue can be contacted by phone at (352) 527-5406, or 911 within Citrus County, Florida in the event of an emergency. Visit online at www.CitrusCountyFire.com, Facebook.com/CitrusCountyFireRescue, or Twitter.com/CitrusCoFire.