Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Sage Crossing Apartments site manager Tony Hernandez Lopez (right) lets Worland firefighters know that there is some smoke in the adjacent apartment to where a grease fire was ignited Thursday morning.
Worland Fire Capt. Brandon Yule talks to Shift Commander Jeremy Wall and another firerfighter about checking adjacent apartments for smoke and any fire in crawl spaces. The Worland Fire Department responded to a kitchen fire in one of the Sage Crossing Apartments Thursday morning.
WORLAND — A grease fire Thursday morning destroyed a kitchen and had several apartment residents evacuated for a short time at the Sage Crossing Apartments.
Worland Fire Capt. Brandon Yule said resident Robyn Hance was heating up oil on her electric range to make french fries. She went upstairs and forgot about the oil until she heard the smoke/fire alarm and came downstairs. She saw the fire and threw a bucket of water. The water, reacting to the boiling grease ignited the cabinets on fire.
“It was a classic throwing-water-on-a-grease-fire mistake,” Yule said. He reminds residents, “When extinguishing a grease fire on a stove top, never use water, this will cause the fire to “explode” out of the vessel it is in. Smother the fire with a metal lid, never glass as it can shatter. Baking soda can be used on a small fire but a class B fire extinguisher is recommended for large vessels. Immediately vacate the building and call 9-1-1.”
Yule said the fire damage was contained to the kitchen but there was smoke damage throughout the residence, a two-bedroom apartment.
He said there was also smoke in three adjacent apartments.
Residents from the apartment structure were all immediately evacuated but were allowed to return later Thursday morning.
Hance said she was going to cook something for her son, who resides with her. He was not at home at the time. They have lived in the apartment for a year, she said.
Yule said Hance sustained first-degree burns to the side of her face. She refused medical treatment.
Hance said she also had some hair singed.
Twelve firefighters were on scene with two engines, a command unit, ladder 1 truck and a rescue unit.
ASSISTANCE
The Worland Fire Department contacted Red Cross who was in contact with Hance to offer assistance. Yule said she has been displaced from her home.
Hance’s mother, Jan, reported later Thursday that Robyn lost some furniture, kitchen appliances and other kitchen items.
Disaster Program Manager Gehrig Haberstock said Red Cross of Wyoming was able to offer some financial assistance for immediate needs and lodging for the short-term. “Then we’ll help follow-up with casework, so just some short-term problem solving, making sure she’s getting plugged in with the resources in the community, to help get her back on her feet on her road to recovery.”
“We’re happy to help. This is why we exist,” Haberstock added.
