At about 4:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, Fountain Hills Rural/Metro Fire Department received a call from a neighbor reporting a fire at a residence located on Grande Boulevard behind the caller’s home.

Firefighters arrived and encountered a working fire in the attic of the house with flames coming from the eaves.

Fire Chief Randy Roberts said firefighters made an aggressive attack from the interior and the exterior of the home to bring the fire under control fairly quickly.

Roberts said initially they believed the fire had started with an electrical problem in the attic, however, further investigation revealed that the source of the fire was the kitchen stove.

The house was vacant and previous occupants were still in the process of moving out. Roberts said apparently boxes or items were left on the stove and somehow the stove was turned on. He believes it was accidental.

No one was in the house at the time of the fire, but someone had been there earlier in the day, according to Roberts.

All Fountain Hills Fire units responded as well as an engine from Fort McDowell on mutual aid.

Roberts said one firefighter suffered from mild heat exhaustion, but otherwise there were no injuries. There was extensive damage to the house, particularly the kitchen area and attic, although an estimate was not immediately available.