An unwatched pot of oil on the stove of an Inverness home is being blamed for starting a kitchen fire on Monday that eventually spread to the living room and filled the entire home with smoke.

Citrus County firefighters were called out at 3:05 p.m. to extinguish the fire at 3535 E. Kerry Lane, where they found smoke coming from a rear window of the approximately 4,000-square-foot residence.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and three family dogs were rescued by deputies.

Investigation showed that the fire appeared to be the result of a pan of oil on the stove that was left unattended. The fire report says that the fire caused extensive damage to the kitchen and the ceiling of the living room, and that the contents were damaged from the heavy smoke that moved throughout the residence.

Fire damages sustained were mainly confined to the kitchen and living room areas, and smoke damages were considerable throughout the remainder of the residence, the fire report says.

The fire took approximately one and one-half hours to extinguish, the fire report notes.

The American Red Cross was contacted to provide assistance for the displaced family. The damages were estimated at approximately $60,000 - $30,000 for the structure and $30,000 for the contents.

SAFETY TIPS

Cooking operations should be closely supervised and attended at all times. A valuable piece of equipment is an appropriate class of fire extinguisher near the kitchen. Also, knowing where the fire extinguisher is located and how to use it is important.

However, it is best to first consider a safe evacuation of the building before attempting to extinguish a fire.

By all means, DO NOT attempt to move the burning pan. This may spread the fire or cause the fire to burn yourself.