COLUMBIA — Around 10 p.m. Monday night, firefighters at Columbia Fire Department Station No. 2 on Worley Street got a “walk in” report of a fire at 701 Claudell Lane, Apt. 201.
Firefighters arrived to find that a small cooking fire had scorched the stove, refrigerator, cabinets and burned a hole in a nearby purse. The department said in a news release the damage estimate is less than $1,000.
Fire investigators said the fire was caused by french fries left unattended on the stove. When firefighters arrived, they used a pressurized water extinguisher to put out the flames.
No one was inside the home when the fire started. A baby sitter heard a smoke alarm, and a neighbor entered the home to investigate. The neighbor drove to the fire department to report the fire.
The department reminded residents in a news release that smoke detectors should be tested often. Residents should change the batteries at least twice a year. If a detector is more than 10 years old, have it replaced and always have an escape plan with at least two ways out.