A kitchen fire that started in a two-story apartment at Arbor Real in Palo Alto was kept from turning into a structure fire after alert citizens called the Palo Alto Fire Department.
The Thursday, Aug. 9, fire was reported at 2:05 p.m. Two callers said they saw smoke and flames from the street and that the apartment on Rickeys Way was actively burning.
Firefighters arrived with multiple vehicles to find light smoke and evidence of a small kitchen fire that had been isolated to the cook top and hood area above the stove top, Battalion Chief Niles Broussard stated in a press release. Crews quickly conducted a search to establish that no occupants were inside before putting out the fire. A fire investigator is looking into the cause, he said.
The fire at Arbor Real is in a higher-density, $1-million-plus housing development with narrow streets, townhouses and some single-family homes.
“This situation had a decent outcome. This situation demonstrated how alert citizens can make a difference. We as first responders appreciate the public’s assistance, especially when they report emergencies in a timely manner. The alert citizens truly made a difference in this case,” Broussard said.
Thursday’s incident was the second time this week that alert citizens helped prevent a disaster. On Wednesday a person reported five fires in Palo Alto’s wildlands at Pearson Arastradero Preserve, and the blazes were limited to 4 acres and contained within two hours.
Great job again Firefighter!