CORNELIUS, OR (KPTV) -
A group of young people escaped their burning home Wednesday morning when an unattended pan of oil started a fire that spread to the cabinets and attic.
The Cornelius Fire Department was called out to a triplex at 845 N. Davis St. just before 8 a.m. Smoke was blowing out from the front door as well as a roof vent when firefighters arrived.
Fire crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire before it spread to the two adjoining units.
At the time of the fire, the oldest brother had gone to the store while the three youngest siblings were still asleep. When he returned, he saw smoke coming from the house and ran inside to wake his family.
According to fire crews, the situation could have been deadly. A smoke alarm was present, but the batteries were removed and there were no fire sprinklers installed in the home.
The fire is initially estimated to have caused $30,000 in damage to the structure and contents. Residents had very minor smoke inhalation as they exited the home, but they were not taken to the hospital.
Copyright 2012 KPTV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
