A savory, microwaveable turnover, cut to reveal the cooked insides. A similar pastry was overheated and left in a recycling bin at the John F. Kenney dormitory in Amherst, causing smoldering and smoke, according to Amherst Fire Chief Tim Nelson.
A savory, microwaveable turnover, cut to reveal the cooked insides. A similar pastry was overheated and left in a recycling bin at the John F. Kenney dormitory in Amherst, causing smoldering and smoke, according to Amherst Fire Chief Tim Nelson. Credit: Tony Branston/Creative Commons

AMHERST — Improper disposal of overcooked food is being blamed for smoke that filled part of a floor at the John F. Kennedy dormitory Tuesday morning.

Amherst Fire Chief Tim Nelson said a student living on the 16th floor of the 22-floor tower overheated a microwaveable turnover and tossed it into a recycling bin just before 11 a.m.

Material in the recycling bin then smoldered before smoke poured out of it and required the response from the firefighters. There was no damage or injuries caused, Nelson said.

Nelson said fire calls associated with cooking are common, especially in the early weeks of the fall semester as freshmen are away from home for the first time.