Three Displaced By Cooking Fire On Raymond Road

Firefighters from Station 7 on Madison’s west side were dispatched to an apartment on the 6500 block of Raymond Road for a reported structure fire.
 
When Engine 7, Ladder 7, and Medic 7 rolled up to the scene, they detected an odor of smoke in the air near one side of the building. Neighbors stated there was a kitchen fire on the second floor, so firefighters proceeded to the unit in question with water source in hand.
 
The occupant of the second-floor apartment told firefighters she thought the fire was out, but when crews opened the door they found small amounts of active fire on the stovetop and above the range hood.
 
A water extinguisher was used to put out the fire. Fire extension and damage were limited to the cabinets above the range hood, the range hood itself, and the stovetop. One burner was still set to HIGH, which firefighters promptly turned off.
 
The occupant reports heating up some frying oil when her infant grandchild began to cry. As she searched the apartment for a pacifier, the smoke alarm activated. She returned to the kitchen to find the pot of oil and fire and flames had spread to the vent hood above the stovetop. She tried unsuccessfully to use a fire extinguisher, flour, and baking soda to put out the fire.
 
The American Red Cross was called to assist the occupant who, along with her daughter and grandchild, was displaced by the fire.

The MFD was called this apartment for a similar incident in March. Both fires were ruled accidental in nature by fire investigators.