An open pot of oil which boiled over and ignited the stovetop caused extensive damage to a home on Ashwood Green SE in Airdrie yesterday (February 1) morning.  

Airdrie fire crews were called to the fire just before 10:00 am.  When they arrived they were met with heavy smoke conditions showing from the main floor of a small, single-story residence.

Deputy Fire Chief Garth Rabel picks up the story from there saying, "There was a young man who was in the home that had safely evacuated with his pet dog but he also advised firefighters that two pet cats remained somewhere within the house."

The man told fire crews that the fire was located in the kitchen area.  When the firefighters entered the area, they encountered heavy smoke and heat from the stovetop fire.  The blaze had extended upwards into the overhead cabinets and into the ceiling area.

Once the blaze was brought under control firefighters used their Thermal Imaging Cameras to determine if the fire had extended into adjacent walls and ceilings.

Once the fire was out Rabel says they located one of the missing cats.  "The cat was quite lethargic and needed some support so the firefighters used their specialized pet CPR oxygen equipment and were able to revive the cat."

Unfortunately, Rabel says, the second cat couldn't be found.

No one was injured in the fire but due to the extensive damage the home remains uninhabitable and the residents will be temporarily displaced.  An estimate of the damage is not known.  

The Airdrie Fire Department had four pieces of apparatus and 14 firefighters on scene.

Rabel has a word of advice for homeowners.  "The kitchen remains one of the most dangerous rooms in the home when it comes to fire incidents.  We need the public to be attentive and safe when cooking.  Never leave stoves or cooking appliances unattended, never use oil in an open pot.  Use a pressure cooker or deep fryer that's specifically designed for that purpose and you should have an extinguisher in your kitchen that's readily accessible in the event of a fire-related incident."

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