A man cooking pierogies at 2:30 a.m. triggered a fire at an apartment house at 95 Main St. Friday, according to Fire Marshal Paul Wetowitz.
A tenant in a third-floor apartment was cooking when a grease fire started. He tried to put it out by pouring water on the burning oil in the pan, something “you never do,” Wetowitz said.
The fire spread quickly into the upper portions of the apartment house. The man, along with his sister and his sister’s boyfriend, were able to get out without injuries — as were some six other people in neighboring apartments.
The building is where the former Unique Interiors antiques shop had occupied the now vacant first floor.
“The top floor is gutted and there is damage to the roof and significant water damage,” Wetowitz said.
Wetowitz said a person who doesn’t live in the building warned some tenants inside that the building was burning. The person apparently suffered a minor injury banging on windows on the first floor, trying to warn people. Firefighters couldn’t confirm the reports.
Two Rottweilers that were in the building are missing. Officials think they ran away during the chaos of the fire.
Fire Chief Tom Tomasheski said the local animal control officer has been searching for them.
There were a total of four Rottweilers living in the building. Two were found alive at the scene.
The Valley Red Cross found temporary housing for two people. The others were able to stay with relatives.
Click here to read a story from WTNH.
The fire is the second this week to be caused by cooking.
CLICK HERE for information on how to extinguish a fire on your stove.
CLICK HERE to watch a video from the U.S. Fire Administration on kitchen fires.
