FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11,206

Bullhead City, AZ – At approximately 9:22 p.m. last night, Bullhead City Fire Department crews were dispatched to the Sun Crest Apartments, located at 1611 Havasupai Drive, for a reported kitchen fire. Upon arrival, crews found that the fire had been extinguished. One patient was located at the scene suffering from burn injuries. The patient was transported to Western Arizona Regional Medical Center for initial treatment and was later flown to Las Vegas for additional medical care.

Crews indicated the fire was caused by a grease cooking fire. According to data from the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking is the leading cause of home and residential building fires in the United States, accounting for roughly half of all reported residential fires.

The Bullhead City Fire Department reminds residents to use caution whenever cooking:
• Never leave cooking food unattended. Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling, or broiling food.
• Keep anything that can catch fire away from cooking areas, including towels, paper products, and other combustibles.
• If a grease fire occurs, never use water to extinguish it. Turn off the heat if it is safe to do so and carefully slide a lid over the pan to smother the flames. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.
• Always maintain working smoke alarms in your residence and test them regularly.

A few simple precautions can help prevent a cooking fire from becoming a life-threatening emergency. The Bullhead City Fire Department encourages everyone to Stay Alert, Stay Safe, and Never Leave Cooking Unattended.