Food left in oven causes house fire in southwest Modesto

French fries left sizzling in the oven are being blamed for a house fire shortly after noon Saturday in southwest Modesto.

Burbank-Paradise Fire Protection District firefighters were called to the home in the 1300 block of Mayette Avenue at 12:30 p.m. Saturday and found the kitchen fully ablaze, said Chief Peter Golling.

No one was home at the time. The fire was called in by a neighbor who saw smoke coming from the eves and chimney, Golling said. The cause of the fire appeared to be french fries left cooking in the oven, he said. He estimated damage as at least $15,000.

The kitchen was destroyed and there was heavy smoke damage throughout the house, but most of the residents’ possessions were saved, Golling said. The Red Cross was called to find emergency shelter for the family of two adults and three children.

Two Burbank-Paradise fire vehicles and a Woodland Avenue Fire Protection District crew responded to the blaze. Golling estimated it took 30 minutes to have the fire under control and an hour to mop up the embers.

This story was originally published November 29, 2014 at 5:16 PM with the headline "Food left in oven causes house fire in southwest Modesto."