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NEWS
Grease fire destroys two homes
Two homes were destroyed by fire Thursday, September 3, 2009, on Dale Road in Milton.
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MILTON -- Two homes in Milton were destroyed early Thursday morning when the cooking of shrimp ignited a grease fire in one of the homes.
Both homes were a total loss, said Milton Volunteer Fire Capt. Timmy Chastain.
Cabell County 911 received word of the fire at 1:27 a.m. in the 1200 block of Dale Road. Crews remained on scene until 4:50 a.m.
Two people escaped without injury from the single-wide mobile home where the fire started. The sole resident of the neighboring house was not home at the time, Chastain said.
A man in the trailer's kitchen told firefighters he was cooking shrimp. He momentarily left the room and returned to find grease on fire. He attempted to extinguish the flames, but the fire continued to spread.
Flames engulfed the trailer, and the fire spread next door. The two residences were separated by about 15 to 20 feet.
Grease fires are a very common type of home fire. Chastain said some people will try to extinguish the fire with water, but once a flammable liquid reaches a certain temperature water further spreads the flame.
Firefighters believe far-reaching flames or radiant heat from the trailer may have spread the fire next door. Chastain said the old age of the neighboring residence also increased its chances of catching fire.
The residents' names were not released.
Volunteer firefighters from Culloden and Ona assisted in extinguishing the fire.
