Latvian fire service responds to four calls for burning unattended food

The State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) in Latvia received four calls on Wednesday related to unattended food catching fire. Three of these incidents were reported in the capital city, Rīga, while the fourth occurred in Mārupes municipality.

One of the calls came shortly before 6 p.m. from Babīte parish in Mārupes municipality. Firefighters were dispatched to a kitchen in a three-story public building where food had been left unattended and started to burn over a small area of 0.01 square meters. Before the VUGD arrived, 55 individuals had already evacuated the building. The fire was extinguished prior to the arrival of the rescue services.

Overall, in the 24-hour period from July 23, 6:30 a.m. to July 24, 6:30 a.m., the VUGD handled a total of 43 calls. These included nine calls for extinguishing fires, 16 for rescue operations, and 18 that were false alarms.

The VUGD reminds the public about the importance of fire safety, particularly concerning cooking. Leaving food unattended on stoves is a common cause of household fires, and vigilance can prevent significant damage and potential harm.