Madison Heights VA – March 3, 2025 – At approximately 1:15 PM today, the Monelison Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a stove fire at a residence on Branch Dr. Engine 21 and Chief 2 promptly responded to the call. Upon arrival, Engine 23 was met outside by the homeowner, who reported that he had successfully extinguished the fire.

The fire was caused by groceries being placed on the stove top, inadvertently bumping the stove knob and igniting the items. The homeowner acted quickly, using a kitchen fire extinguisher to put out the flames before they could spread further.

Engine 23 personnel utilized a thermal imaging camera to ensure there was no extension of the fire within the residence. Additionally, a fan was used to ventilate the home and clear it of smoke.

The Monelison Volunteer Fire Department would like to remind all citizens of the importance of having a portable fire extinguisher readily available in their homes, as well as ensuring that smoke detectors are in proper working order. The quick thinking and preparedness of the homeowner in this incident prevented what could have been a much more severe situation. Additionally, we urge everyone to avoid placing combustible materials on stove tops to prevent similar incidents.