(OCALA, FL.) April 19, 2023 – On Tuesday, April 18, at approximately 7:06 p.m., Ocala Fire Rescue units were dispatched to a fire call at the Berkeley Pointe apartment complex, 2833 NE 7th St.

Residents directed crews to a second-floor apartment, where a stove was reportedly on fire.

Upon entering the kitchen, firefighters encountered a stove top and a toaster covered in extinguishing powder. 

A conversation with the homeowner revealed that the fire resulted from a burner that became accidentally energized, burning a toaster on the stovetop. The fire containment and extinguishment were due to the successful activation of a fire suppression device.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking. Ocala Fire Rescue encourages the public to keep an eye on what they heat and keep things that can catch fire away from any heat source.