BOISE, IDAHO, ENGINE 8 WAS HAVING A BUSY evening on Christmas Eve.  Mostly medical calls, they were running a succession of emergencies when they started fixing a quick dinner, including Idaho’s specialty, Tater-Tots.

Shortly after, another medical assist call came in and away they went.  When they returned from this one they immediately saw a recognizable orange glow coming from the kitchen.  The potatoes became over-cooked and started a small fire in the overhead cabinets.  It was quickly extinguished and damages are confined to the kitchen.

Engine 8 at quarters

All Boise Fire Department stations are designed to cut the power to cooking equipment when the station bells are activated for an emergency call.

“In this case it appears the dispatch center did not know they had returned from the previous call and did not activate their station bell, thinking they were still returning to the station,” Dep. Chief Dave Hanneman said in a media statement.

There were no injuries, but the Tater-Tots were a total loss.

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