Burning Stoves to Blame for 2 Kitchen Fires

HOUSTON - Within a one-hour period, two homes in the Houston area were damaged by fires that were likely caused by stoves that were left burning.

Firefighters arrived at approximately 10:45 p.m. Monday to find a burning one-story home on Bellaire Boulevard near Mary Bates Boulevard in southwest Houston. Because of their fast attack, firefighters were able to put out the fire within 15 minutes.

According to investigators, a family of four had left the home to eat dinner following an electricity outage, but the stove may have been left on accidentally. Two dogs that live in the home were not harmed.

A second fire was reported in Channelview. There, volunteer firefighters arrived around 11:30 p.m. at the Casa de Grande apartment complex on Ashland Boulevard and found flames shooting from the kitchen of a second-floor unit.

Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading, but nearby apartments suffered some smoke damage.

Firefighters determined the stove was left on inside the apartment unit.