Neighbor relies on training to battle grease fire
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

A gathering of friends for a Friday fish fry turned tragic when the grease heating on a stove ignited.

Joe Schaab, owner of 135 Admirals Walk, was in the garage with neighbors Lori and Kurt Stanley on June 1 when they noticed smoke coming from the vent in the kitchen.

"(Schaab) had literally gone in and checked it just five minutes before," Lori said. "Smoke was rolling out of the vent."

She said they ran to the kitchen where the pan and the stove hood were engulfed in flames.

Fortunately Schaab had two fire extinguishers close to the blaze. Kurt Stanley, a former Eggertsville firefighter, grabbed one and went to work.

Lori Stanley said she called 911 before she and Schaab left the house.

"I couldn't believe how thick the smoke was ... there was a lot of popping and cracking," she said.

Kurt Stanley used the second extinguisher and then crawled outside through the smoke and used a garden hose through the window on the flames.

Lori said the flames were out prior to Ellicottcreek Fire Company arriving. Hot spots were treated by the firefighters.

"My training immediately kicked in," Kurt Stanley said.

He was treated for a few blisters caused by melted material falling onto him.

Damage was estimated at $77,000. An antique collector, Schaab lost several items that had been displayed in the kitchen.

"The kitchen is a total loss ... but the firefighters said that if it wasn't for Kurt the whole house would be gone," Lori Stanley said.

The National Fire Protection Association, www.nfpacatalog.org, offers the following tips, dish towels, curtains and paper should be 3 feet from the stove; pot handles should be turned toward the back of the stove; and known an escape plan. Also, water and flour should never be used on cooking fires.