The Victoria Fire Department is warning residents to be careful when cooking food on the stove following a kitchen fire on Sunday evening that’s left one person homeless.
Around 9:30 p.m., the fire department responded to alarm bells at an apartment complex at 710 Queens Ave.
Upon arrival, crews discovered that a stove-top oil fire had activated the sprinkler system in the kitchen, which extinguished the fire that was contained to the pot.
The resident had been cooking french fries in oil on the stove at the time of the incident. Officials believe the fire was likely caused by overheating the oil.
The blaze caused approximately $35,000 in damage, most of which came from the sprinkler activation. There was also some smoke and heat damage.
The fire marks the second within three days. On Dec. 11, crews responded to a fire at 841 Bay St. At the scene, they found the front exterior of the house in flames, but were quickly able to douse the fire, which occured near a natural gas meter supplying the home.
All five people inside the house were able to return to their suites. The fire is being treated as suspicious as the investigation continues.
