Kitchen fire damages home on Haywood Avenue

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Firefighters responded to a kitchen fire around 9:30 p.m. Thursday night on Haywood Avenue, the Chattanooga Fire Department says.

Chattanooga Fire says the homeowner was heating oil on the stove to cook french fries and left the kitchen. Chattanooga Fire says the homeowner returned to kitchen to find the stove on fire.

According to the department, the homeowner said her boyfriend threw the burning pot out the backdoor and used a portable fire extinguisher on it.

Captain Wadie Suttles said the fire was out by the time firefighters arrived, but the house was filled with smoke.

Firefighters say they used a high-power fan to ventilate the structure.

Officials say the fire caused an estimated $6,000 in damage and no injuries were reported.

The fire department says the cause was ruled accidental from unattended cooking. According to NFPA, cooking equipment is the leading cause of house fires and fire injuries.

**PHOTO: Chattanooga Fire Captain Wadie Suttles