Firefighters responded to two separate dinner-time kitchen fires Thursday evening in The Villages.
The first call came in at 5:14 p.m. regarding an appliance fire at a $2.1 million home located at 3539 Conservation Trail in the Village of Pine Hills.
Engine 44 from The Villages Public Safety Department arrived on the scene first and reported visible smoke coming from the residence. Crews quickly pulled a line and extinguished the fire, which had been sparked by oil in a pan on the stovetop. Firefighters then removed portions of the drywall to check for fire extension.
Even several minutes after the fire was extinguished, a significant amount of smoke was still billowing from the home’s ridge vent. Crews remained on the scene to thoroughly check hidden spaces and ensure the flames had not spread.
The quick response was critical. Officials noted that if crews had been delayed getting to the home, the flames “most certainly would have transmitted to the attic.”
Despite damage to the kitchen, the home was deemed livable and the homeowner chose to remain in the house. Engine 44 was assisted at the scene by Ladder 45, Engine 47, Squad 51, and Battalions 42 and 402.
Just 18 minutes later, at 5:32 p.m., while crews were still battling the first fire and simultaneous units were responding to an alarm call at an assisted living facility, a second kitchen fire was reported in the Village of Fenney.
That incident also involved a pot left on the stove. Engine 46 arrived quickly and found that the fire was already out upon arrival, allowing responding units—including Battalion 47—to cancel en route.
No injuries were reported in either incident.