UPDATE: Emmaus Firefighters Make Quick Work of Kitchen Fire

Emmaus firefighters made quick work of a kitchen fire Saturday afternoon, but a resident burned her hand trying to extinguish the flames, according to the borough fire chief.

Firefighters were called at 2:14 p.m. to a residence at 647 Harrison St. in the borough, according to Fire Chief James Reiss. An assistant chief radioed that smoke was showing when he arrived.

Minutes later, the fire was called under control, but a borough ambulance was called for a burn victim. Reiss did not have the name of the victim, a woman who was cooking in the home. He said she received a minor burn to the hand while trying to remove the burning pan from the stove into the sink.

Reiss said the fire began when the woman was cooking oil in a pan on the stove. She stepped away for a few moments and returned to see the pan on fire. He said the curtains and blinds caught fire as she tried to move the pan. Flames singed the cabinets and ceiling, but that damage was minor, he said.

Reiss said he was uncertain whether the woman was able to extinguish the blaze or firefighters immediately did so when they arrived. Firefighters put out remaining hot spots.

"The best thing to do is stay in the area where you are cooking," he said. "If a fire starts, put a lid over the burning pan."

The lid will remove the oxygen source and the fire will go out, he explained. He added that a person should not pour water on an oil or grease fire because that tends to spread flames.