Published on October 23, 2019

Pictured above – Menlo Park Firefighters on-scene of a single alarm, single story, residential attic fire on Fanita Way – Credit Menlo Fire Investigators

Menlo Park Fire Protection District

Mondays Structure Fire in Menlo Park was “Accidental”

San Mateo County Public Safety Communications Dispatch Center (PSC), received a single report of smoke coming from the back of a stove at a home on Fanita Way in Menlo Park, Monday at 11.51 am.. Menlo Engine One, with Acting Captain Brian Berger and crew arrived on-scene at 11.58 am reporting that they had “light smoke in the area coming from a single story residential home with a woman standing in front of the home”.

The woman told firefighters she was cooking fish in oil on the cook top when it caught on fire with the flames reaching the overhead exhaust fan and hood. She quickly and properly smothered the fire and turned off the stove, but later heard crackling in the ceiling, noticed the fan screen was red hot and white smoke was coming out. She then smartly called 911 and went outside to wait for firefighters to arrive.

Acting Captain Berger entered the kitchen and noticed the overhead fan screen was now on fire. The crew punched a hole into the kitchen ceiling next to the fan assembly and immediately found that they had an active attic fire that was threatening to quickly spread into homes entire attic space. Berger asked that attack hose line be pulled into the structure and requested roof ventilation along with additional crews to pull the ceiling and salvage property inside the home.

Battalion Chief Chris Pimentel arrived on-scene at 11.58 am and assumed overall command. At 12 am. When Acting Captain Berger radioed that they had a working fire above the kitchen in the attic along with other immediate need tasks. Battalion Chief Pimentel asked PSC to fill-out the response to a working structure fire, which brought in a total of five fire engines, a ladder truck, two Battalion Chiefs, fire investigators and PG&E to secure utilities.

Menlo Truck One arrived on-scene and was directed to cut a ventilation hole with chain saws above the fire in the roof so smoke and heat could be directed upward and out of the building, thus helping to stop its spread and reduce the overall chance of a backdraft explosion or flashover which could have then spread to the entire attic. Additional arriving Engine crews were directed inside the home to assist with fire suppression, pulling down ceiling in the kitchen and salvaging and protecting other items in the home by moving, or covering them. The fire was completely extinguished and brought under control by 12.20 pm.

Fire Investigators determined the cause of the fire was “accidental” and “human error” in using a cooking item like the pan of oil. However, contributing to its spread into the attic space was caused by the ventilation flu pipe not containing the fire and/or properly directing it outside the home and attic space above the roof line. The single story 2,060 square foot home was built in 1948. Property loss is estimated at $100,000 with an additional $30,000 in loss and damage to the homes contents. The home is valued at $3.7 million dollars and can be repaired.

Fire Chief Schapelhouman said “outside of the pan fire, the occupant did everything correctly, she smothered the fire, turned off the stove, called 911 and then waited outside. The fire crews made a great stop on the fire because it was active in a wide open attic space with dried out wood timbers installed in the 1940’s. The timing of cutting the hole in the roof , that can rapidly spread the fire by feeding it oxygen like a chimney, unless perfectly timed with the use of limited water for extinguishment, was masterfully executed. That then significantly reducing the damage from the fire, smoke and water needed for suppression. These types of cooking fires are the most common that we encounter and most attic fires typically take the whole attic of the house and/or spread downward into the living spaces. The combination of a quick call for help by the owner and the aggressive posture and timing of our firefighters in combating this fire, literally stopped it in its tracks! Saving the majority of the home and limiting most of the damage to just the kitchen area and attic space directly above it, significantly reducing the dollar and personal property loss to the owner/occupant”.

The home was “red tagged” by the City and boarded up for security purposes by a private company. Firefighters and investigators were on-scene until 2.10 pm and ten periodically stopped by to scan the fire area with a thermal imaging camera to insure no hidden fire remained.