Ancona, July 16, 2026 – Moments of fear this morning in an apartment along via Flaminia, in the station area, which caught fire due to overheating of oil in a pan left on the lit stove. The flames spread in a few moments and engulfed the extractor hood and the rest of the kitchen. A 54-year-old woman suffered first-degree burns on various parts of her body while trying to extinguish the fire, and was taken to the Torrette hospital along with her 15-year-old nephew, who was at home with her. The alarm went off around 10:15. The dynamics reconstructed by the rescuers are typical of domestic fires that start from the stove: the overheated cooking oil ignited on its own, without direct contact with the flame.
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The fire quickly rose towards the hood, where the grease-soaked filters provided further fuel for the combustion. It was in those first moments, while trying to stop the flames, that the fifty-four-year-old was burned in several parts of her body.
The rescue operation proceeded in sequence. Firefighters were the first to enter, extinguishing the fire and clearing the smoke-filled rooms, ensuring the environment was safe, that there was no risk of flare-ups, and that carbon monoxide levels were under control. Only then could the Ancona Red Cross team intervene, who, wearing protective helmets, entered the apartment with burn kits, oxygen, a stretcher, and a sheet.
The medical staff, supported by the 118 emergency medical vehicle, provided first aid to the woman and her nephew, escorting both to the Torrette emergency room: her for the burns, the boy as a precaution, for checks on possible carbon monoxide inhalation, the odorless gas released during combustion in enclosed spaces.
Both injured are not serious
The condition of both does not cause concern. The episode offers an opportunity to recall the firefighters’ advice on this type of fire, among the most frequent within homes. Burning oil should never be extinguished with water: in contact with boiling oil, water instantly evaporates and projects burning droplets around, with the effect of spreading the fire rather than smothering it. The correct reaction is to turn off the gas and deprive the flames of oxygen by covering the pan with a lid or a wet and well-wrung cloth; never move the pot, to avoid spilling the burning oil. If the fire has already reached the hood or furniture, the only choice is to leave the house, closing the door of the room and immediately calling 115. And when cooking with oil, the basic rule remains: never leave the stove unattended.
