An air fryer is being blamed for a fire that destroyed a townhouse unit at 137 Sylvan Crescent this morning around 8:44 a.m.
Deputy Fire Chief Greg Saunders said fire crews were on the scene within six minutes and upon arrival, crews were met with heavy fire conditions and thick black smoke that could be seen from kilometres away.
“The fire started in the back of the kitchen, according to the resident who was here. He said he was using an air fryer that caught on fire. When we got here the whole unit was on fire,” North Bay Fire and Emergency Services Platoon Chief Steve Denomme.
Denomme was asked if the fire had spread to adjoining units.
“It hasn’t,” he said, adding the next door neighbours had self-evacuated.
Saunders added all residents were alerted by the sounding fire alarms and were able to successfully leave the residence, proceeded to call 911 and alert the neighbors of the rowhouse who evacuated safely with their pets.
“One resident of the home was taken to the hospital suffering minor injuries and has since been released,” he said.
“The fire unit is destroyed, however the quick action by fire crews limited the damage to the adjacent units. The cause of the fire is under investigation but not deemed suspicious.”
North Bay Fire and Emergency Services urges caution while cooking and to never leave operating cooking appliances unattended. Working smoke alarms that are properly located and maintained provide critical early warning as most fatal fires occur in homes with no or nonfunctioning alarms. They must be installed on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas.