Teen credited for saving siblings after air fryer caught fire in Harford County home
Fire investigators said three children -- ages 4, 10, and 14 - were home alone and were cooking French fries in an air fryer when the 14-year-old smelled smoke, and then saw the air fryer on fire.
She helped her younger brother and sister out of the Edgewood townhome and told a neighbor, who called 911, according to fire officials.
Investigators said the 14-year-old remained calm, got her siblings out, and told an adult.
Harford County deputies arrived first and closed the front door, which prevented further damage, according to investigators.
Firefighters contained the bulk of the fire to the kitchen, with significant heat, soot, and smoke damage throughout the remainder of the home.
Five family members from the home were displaced and assisted by Harford County Disaster Assistance.
It took 15 minutes for firefighters to contain the fire. The estimated damage was $75,000 to the structure and the contents inside.
If you own an air fryer, maintenance is important to prevent fires.
According to CNET, constant cleaning of the air fryer basket after each use and cleaning the heating coils monthly are key to preventing grease fires.
The Food Safety and Inspection Services says to never use water to put out a grease fire. Instead, use a kitchen extinguisher or cover the fryer with a metal lid and call 911.
Also, don't overcrowd the air fryer basket or leave the air fryer unattended.
In February 2023, popular kitchen appliances brand Cosori recalled two million air fryers after receiving 205 reports of the air fryers catching fire, burning, melting, overheating, and smoking, which resulted in injuries, including superficial burn injuries as well as property damage.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urged consumers to immediately stop using the products, which have a wire connection that is prone to overheating, raising concerns that the fryers could catch fire and burn or otherwise injure consumers.
"After a thorough investigation, we determined that in extremely rare circumstances, the closed-end crimp connectors within the recalled air fryers — which are responsible for establishing electrical connections between certain wires — can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards," Cosori said in a statement on its website.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
9 hours ago
- CBS News
At least 5 displaced after vacant building fire damages neighboring structure, Dallas Fire-Rescue says
At least five people are displaced after a fire at a vacant two-story building damaged a neighboring structure, Dallas Fire-Rescue said Saturday morning. DFR said just after 6 a.m., crews were called to a building fire at the intersection of N. Marsalis Avenue and Comal Street. DFW said a second alarm was immediately requested, followed by a third alarm, leading to between 65 to 70 firefighters being called to the scene. Crews worked for over two hours before extinguishing the blaze, during which a neighboring residential building received exposure damage, officials said. Though no injuries were reported, DFR said at least five residents from the neighboring residence required assistance from the American Red Cross. The cause of the fire is under investigation, officials said.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lopez: For older Palisades fire evacuees, starting over is a bit bumpy, with a soft landing
Joe and Arline Halper loved their house, their neighborhood and their lifestyle in Pacific Palisades, and the plan was to stay there indefinitely. Even as Joe hit 95 and Arline approached 89, neither of them thought of themselves as old, and Arline had no appetite for moving to what she called an age-specific setting. Such as a retirement community. Then came the fire, which destroyed their house and much of the Palisades. So where do they live now? In a 175-unit retirement community. Arline said their sons were familiar with Avocet in Playa Vista, which offers both independent and assisted living with on-site care for those who need it, and loads of amenities including a rooftop swimming pool and fitness center, a bar, a movie theater and daily meals for those who'd rather not turn on the stove. The Halpers checked it out five months ago. They moved in. They're adapting. 'Now that I'm here I feel differently,' said Arline, a former teacher. 'We have a lovely apartment…and people are very warm and friendly.' One big advantage: There's no danger of the isolation that's epidemic among older adults. But communal living takes some getting used to, Joe said as we had lunch in the common dining room a few days ago with three other Palisades evacuees who relocated to Avocet. 'You could be having dinner or breakfast, whatever, and people will come over and stand over you and talk to you,' he said. 'It's total sociability here. And caring, too. But it's just exhausting.' Read more: After the fires, starting from scratch in their 70s, 80s and 90s And yet. Joe, who worked in parks administration and served until recently as an L.A. recreation and parks commissioner, goes to the gym on the top floor of the building, where he works out with weights one day and swims the next. Restaurants and shopping are within walking distance. Arline has taken up pickleball in the nearby park. And the bottom line is this: Transitions can be difficult at any age, and especially so the older you get. But there's life after the Palisades, and it's a pretty good deal if you can afford it. 'This place is not cheap,' said Bill Klein, 94, a former UCLA law professor. Bill and his wife, Renee, 85, were buddies with the Halpers in the Palisades (where Renee and Arline were longtime volunteers for the Library Association). They all said that having the close company of good friends at a time of loss and rebirth has been a big help, even as Joe and Bill nurse lingering bitterness about the chaotic evacuation and rapid spread of the fire that upended their lives. Renee, a former social worker, said she'd already begun thinking that their ocean-view Palisades home of 54 years had become too much to take care of. Unlike the Halpers, their house survived the January fire, but the neighborhood was incinerated and they're not going back. 'This was in the back of my mind, but it was not anything we were planning at the moment,' she said. 'We had a disagreement on that,' Bill said. 'I was not inclined to come to a place like this.' Bill glanced across the dining room and spoke plainly. 'Look around,' he said. 'There's a lot of old people here with their walkers and it's not a lively place, except in a forced way, in my sense of it. I think that people here try very hard to deny that they're living in an old folks home.' That's not a judgment of Avocet, or of the people. It's more of a comment on the compromise that aging imposes. Bill said he and Renee once visited her mother's retirement home, and he couldn't hide what he was thinking. Read more: Six months after the fires: 'We have lost a lot. We never lost each other.' 'Don't let them grab me and keep me here,' he told Renee. But Bill knows he's fighting the inevitable. 'I had to concede that I belonged here,' he said. 'But I didn't like it.' He's coming along, though. What he does like, Bill said, is 'pushing weights around' in the gym and swimming in the pool. 'I've made a good life for myself here,' he conceded, saying that he's devouring a stack of books, mostly nonfiction, including one he just read on Jesse James and another on artificial intelligence. When he runs out of his own books, there's a library off the lobby. And daily video lectures by experts on various subjects. And although Avocet is age-specific, Bill and Arline said, the neighborhood is not. Step outside and you're surrounded by ethnic and generational diversity, with neighbors walking to stores, restaurants and parks. 'You can go across Lincoln and you're in the wetlands,' said Arline. Joining us for lunch was Janet H., 85, another Palisades evacuee. The retired teacher, who asked me not to use her last name for privacy reasons, said her husband was upstairs in their apartment, recovering from an illness that landed him in the hospital for a month. 'This place saved our lives,' said Janet, who had lived in her Palisades home for 53 years. The on-site care offers peace of mind, and in the Palisades, her home was somewhat isolated. At Avocet, Janet said, caring neighbors and staff have been a daily comfort. And that's not even the best part of the package. 'What I'm really happy about is I never have to cook again,' Janet said. As we spoke, a woman of 98 strolled by and greetings were exchanged. A few minutes later, her husband followed after her with a walker. He'd just turned 100. 'And still going,' Arline said. 'Well, the alternative is a little more bleak,' the gentleman responded. To me, as a first-time visitor, Avocet had the feel of a grand resort or a luxury cruise ship. But does it feel like home? I asked. 'You're right,' Arline said. 'We're on a cruise, and we're not landing.' 'But maybe that's where we belong at this time,' said Janet. They belong where they've chosen to be, making the best of it in a year of unfathomable loss and unscheduled reinvention. A bumpy ride, for sure, but Joe made an observation about where they've ended up. 'It's a soft landing,' he said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
CNET
12 hours ago
- CNET
Who Needs an Oven? These 9 Air Fryer Dishes Are That Next Level
When the summer heat hits, the last thing you want is to crank up the oven and turn your kitchen into a sauna. That's where the air fryer comes in—and once you start using it, it's hard to go back. It cooks quickly, keeps the house cooler and delivers crispy, flavorful meals without the fuss. I put it to the test and found the air fryer made a noticeable difference in kitchen temps compared to the oven. But it's not just about beating the heat. The air fryer also cuts down on prep time, skips the need for preheating and lets you walk away while it works its magic. If you're ready to simplify your summer dinners and stay cool while doing it, these air fryer go-tos are the perfect place to start. What began as a glorified frozen-snack machine has turned into a full-on kitchen workhorse. The air fryer now handles everything from crispy chicken tenders to roasted veggies to gooey desserts. Beyond the staples, I've discovered a few surprising air fryer foods that I'm now completely hooked on. From whole-roasted chicken and flaky salmon to vegetables and sides, such as cauliflower, potatoes and carrots, certain foods feel like they were made to cook in an air fryer. You'll find a ton of Reddit threads with home cooks asking for the ultimate air fryer recipes, and we've put together this guide to help you out with our favorites. Looking for something great to make? Check out the nine foods you absolutely have to cook in an air fryer below. And if you're searching for an air fryer or to upgrade your existing oven, we have a new favorite model with a glass cooking chamber that's easy to clean and doubles as a food storage container. 1. Salmon Just 8 minutes in the air fryer and you have perfectly medium rare salmon. David Watsky/CNET Broiled salmon is a simple, healthy weeknight dinner staple. It's not difficult to make in the oven, but if you're only cooking for one or two people, the preheating time is a pain and you'll waste a lot of energy for a small amount of food. Pan-seared salmon is great and quick, but there's almost no way to cook salmon on the stove without creating an oily and odorous mess. I tried cooking roasted salmon in the air fryer, and it came out perfectly in about 10 minutes, including preheating time. The closed cooking chamber captures all of the grease and even hides some of the fishy smell from taking over the space. OK, so you might catch me throwing the occasional filet of salmon on the grill during warmer months, but gone are the days of me wiping fish grease from the backsplash behind my kitchen stove. Here's how to make perfect air fryer salmon. 2. Whole chicken Air-fryer roasted chicken is a revelation. David Watsky/CNET This one surprised me the most since I make a roast chicken most Sundays and had become content with my method of using the oven. I learned fast that the air fryer does an even better job since it's able to crisp the skin quickly without overcooking the meat. Air-fryer roasted chicken takes about 45 minutes -- about 15% quicker than the oven -- and it's nearly impossible to screw up. Here's how to make a quick roasted chicken in the air fryer. 3. Bacon cheeseburgers You can cook a burger to perfect medium or medium rare with an air fryer. Pamela Vachon/CNET Air fryer cheeseburgers have become a staple around my home. The exception is during summer when the grill is in full swing, but during cooler months, I turn to the air fryer for this American classic. It's not only cleaner than pan frying, but the burger doesn't cook in its own grease, so you get a lighter, healthier meal (if you're into that sort of thing). You can also stick the bun and a couple of slices of bacon in with the burger and you have the full meal with almost no cleanup to manage. Here's how to make a cheeseburger from top to bottom in the air fryer. 4. Chicken cutlets Air fryers turn out picture-perfect chicken cutlets. David Watsky/CNET Before the air fryer, I used to pan-fry breaded chicken cutlets for chicken Parmesan and other recipes, but the air fryer does the same job with less mess and produces less oily fried chicken, too. Watch this: Best Air Fryers: Cheap vs. Expensive 19:24 I recommend using boneless chicken thighs, which have enough fat content to withstand all that convection heat without drying out. Simply coat the chicken in beaten egg wash followed by bread crumbs mixed with salt, pepper and other spices. Cook at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes. You can spray the cutlets lightly with a bit of oil before cooking to get an extra crispy crust, but it's not necessary. I've tried the same method with chicken breasts; it works well, but there is more risk of drying out the meat. 5. Cauliflower steak Cauliflower steak made in the air fryer has become a staple side dish in my kitchen. David Watsky/CNET One of my favorite things to cook in the air fryer is cauliflower. A slab of cauliflower makes an excellent hearty side dish or main course if you're going plant-based. Simply toss a thick slice or two of cauliflower with olive oil and salt and pepper, or some seasoning of your choice, and air fry for 10 or 12 minutes on high. The air fryer gives it a beautiful caramelized crust, and it cooks the dense veggie fast enough so that the inside of the cauliflower doesn't become mushy. 6. Leftover pizza This leftover pizza got a whole new life thanks to a short trip to the air fryer. David Watsky/CNET While not every type of food is best reheated in the air fryer, a lot of them are. Air fryers are the perfect way to revive leftover pizza, fried chicken, grilled meats and vegetables. A microwave heats food unevenly and tends to impart a rubbery texture. Air fryers give food a second life via convection heat for a crispy crust and even heating. Here's the best way to reheat every type of leftover. 7. Hot dogs You can cook an entire package of hot dogs in just a few minutes. David Watsky/CNET It's hard to screw up a hot dog, but if you want a perfectly charred wiener in under five minutes with essentially no cleanup, look to the air fryer. Air fryer hot dogs are as simple as simple gets, and the super convection oven gives them a perfect browning in two or three minutes. Here's how to make hot dogs in the air fryer all summer. 8. Baked potatoes Air fryer baked potatoes had crispy skin and were light and fluffy inside. Brian Bennett/CNET OK, so technically this one starts out in the microwave and then gets finished in the air fryer. The microwave softens the inside in under 8 minutes while the air fryer blasts the edges and skin to a crispy perfection. It's a restaurant-quality baked potato in less than 12 minutes. Here's how to make the best air fryer baked potato ever. Oh, and if you're still not sure what an air fryer is and how it works, check out our complete guide to air fryers. 9. Grilled cheese This air fryer grilled cheese is as good as it looks. Pamela Vachon/CNET For a grilled cheese, the air fryer is working on both of the bread surfaces and the cheese all at once, resulting in a quicker melt, which adheres the cheese to the bread slices together making for a much easier flip. (Flipping is still recommended but with far less drama.) Here's the secret to perfect air fryer grilled cheese.
