‘Unattended cooking’ leads to early morning structure fire in Danville, officials say

DANVILLE, Va. (WFXR) — A Danville home sustained fire, heat, smoke, and water damage due to an early morning structure fire on Wednesday, fire officials say.

According to the Danville Fire Department, crews were returning from another call when they were dispatched to a reported structure fire at 224-1A Clement Avenue at 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13. The department says crews arrived on the scene at 2:31 a.m. and found heavy smoke coming from the front of a small, one-story house. However, all occupants were reportedly outside of the house.

One crew from the Lynn Street Fire Station pulled a hand line, set up a ventilation fan, and entered the house while another crew from the Piney Forest Road Fire Station pulled a line for water supply, officials say. Firefighters located the fire in the kitchen and brought it under control by 2:42 a.m., according to authorities.

According to the department, 16 fire personnel were on the scene for 1 hour and 46 minutes. In addition, the Danville Life Saving Crew, Danville Electric Department, Danville Water and Gas Department and Danville Police Department reportedly assisted at the scene.

Fire officials say the kitchen sustained heavy fire damage while the rest of the house sustained moderate heat, smoke, and water damage. There are no reports of injuries, the department says, but the occupants of the house will be staying with family members.

An investigation by the Fire Marshal’s office determined the cause of the fire to be “unattended cooking,” according to Battalion Chief Chris Key.

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