Kirkland firefighters extinguished the flames of a kitchen fire at a house in the Finn Hill neighborhood Wednesday evening.

Initial reports indicate the fire quickly spread at the single-family home located at the 11400 block of 80th Ave. N.E.

Kirkland Fire Department battalion chief Joe Sanford said the fire was confined to the kitchen – flames reached to the ceiling damaging walls and cabinets – but smoke billowed throughout the house.

“The smoke and heat melted everything,” Sanford said, noting the investigator estimated $80,000 to $100,000 worth in damages.

The accidental fire occurred due to a cooking oil spill on the electric burner of an oven.

“Anytime you get cooking oil against a hot element … it can ignite,” Sanford said. “Once it ignites, it’s hard to put out. Often people throw water on it but it makes a splash, and you have burning oil splashing everywhere.”

Sanford said people should cover the pan where the oil is coming from instead of using water.

No serious injuries were reported, however, Sanford said the woman who was cooking and reported the fire had minor burns on her face. She was taken to EvergreenHealth Medical Center, examined and released.

Units from Kirkland, Bothell and Northshore responded.