A 41-year-old woman was seriously burned shortly after 5 p.m. on Tuesday, after she attempted to carry a flaming pot of grease from her kitchen to the front door. This occurred at The Reserve at Creekside apartment complex in the 7800 block of East Brainerd Road.
Captain Anthony Moore with the Fire Investigation Division said the woman was heating up a pot of grease on the stove when it overheated and burst into flames. The woman said she tried to carry the flaming pot out the front door. Captain Moore believes someone opened the door for her, but as she approached the entrance, the door started to close shut on her. Captain Moore said the woman might have been focused on the flaming pot, because she collided with the door, splashing hot grease all over her.
By then Chattanooga firefighters were on the way. Lt. David Cowden with Quint 21 said the fire was out when they arrived. Lt. Cowden said a neighbor brought a portable fire extinguisher to put the small fire out. The woman’s two children were home at the time, but they were not injured.
The woman was transported by Hamilton County EMS to Erlanger Medical Center, but Captain Moore said preparations were being made to airlift her to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Ga. Her condition is unknown at this time.