Unattended grill to blame for sparking fire

COLUMBIA — A Father’s Day barbecue took an unforeseen turn when a fire broke out at a southeast Columbia home Sunday.

Just after 7 p.m., the Columbia Fire Department responded to a report of an exploding gas grill at 2321 Deer Creek Court, a Fire Department news release said.

No one was injured during the fire.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the remnants of the grill and parts of the back deck, patio furniture and siding. Thermal imaging cameras were used to inspect the rest of the house for signs of fire, the release said.

Batchu Sudhir, the homeowner, told firefighters that drippings from lamb chops he was cooking on the grill ignited and caught the bottom of the grill on fire. Sudhir attempted to put the fire out while his wife called the firefighters. Sudhir and his family evacuated the house shortly before the grill exploded.

Investigators at the scene attributed the fire to unattended cooking. Damages were estimated at $10,000.