PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A small kitchen fire forced a Strong Avenue family to flee their home on Monday evening. 

 

According to Deputy Chief Daniel Garner, the Fire Department responded at about 6:13 p.m. to 51 Strong Ave. for a reported grease fire with three engines, Tower 1 and Engine 5's Rapid Intervention Team. 

 

Engine 6 found the occupants outside and extinguished the fire as Engine 3's crew removed damaged appliances and burnt materials. Tower 1's crew ventilated the structure of smoke and dry chemical irritants. 

 

A family of five was temporarily displaced during this event but the property was turned back to the owner, and

they are expected to remain in the home, reported Garner. Fire damage was limited to the kitchen.

 

The department is commending the fast action of the occupants when the fire started. The adult occupants, upon finding the grease fire flare up, acted quickly to minimize damage, said Garner, then they promptly called 911, placed a small "fire blanket" on the stovetop area, and quickly exited the structure. The fire blanket is made to assist in controlling or slowing down a potential stovetop fire by cutting off the oxygen supply. These actions prevented much more damage from occurring.

 

There were no fire or civilian injuries associated with this incident.