Popcorn Machine Sparks Fire
February 9, 2002 * Indianola, Washington
When a 7 year-old girl decided to use an electric popcorn machine to make a snack, she left the appliance running unattended (for more information on avoiding cooking fires, click here) on a kitchen counter and it caught fire.  The home's smoke alarms activated and the girl, having discovered the flames, summoned her mother who attempted to squelch the fire with an older extinguisher.   It would not discharge, so the woman unplugged the machine and directed the sink's sprayer at the flames which successfully

3 out of 10 home fires start in the kitchen.
The #1 cause of kitchen fires is unattended cooking.

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extinguished the fire. She then called 911.  Although fire crews had to ventilate the smoke that spread throughout the home, flame damage was limited to the appliance (pictured above) and the immediate area surrounding it.