Colorado Springs Couple Recovering from Severe Burns

Fire caused by overheated oil pan leaves three injured, one with extensive injuries requiring skin grafts.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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A Colorado Springs couple and their roommate were severely burned earlier this month when a fire broke out in their apartment kitchen. The fire started when Jordan Roberts briefly turned his back on an oily pan on the stove, which then caught fire. In attempting to carry the pan outside, the oil splashed on Roberts, his fiancé James, and their other roommate, leaving all three with burns. James suffered the worst injuries, requiring skin grafts on his arm and feet.

Why it matters

Kitchen fires and grease-related incidents are a common cause of home fires and injuries, highlighting the importance of fire safety practices and awareness around the risks of cooking with hot oil. This incident also underscores the significant medical and financial burdens faced by burn victims and their families during lengthy recovery periods.

The details

Jordan Roberts said he was making breakfast when he briefly turned away from the stove, at which point the oily pan caught fire. In trying to carry the pan outside, the hot oil splashed on Roberts, his fiancé James, and their other roommate, leaving all three with burns. James suffered the most severe injuries, with burns down to the tendons on his arm and feet that will require extensive skin grafting procedures and months of recovery.

  • The fire occurred earlier this month.
  • It's been nearly two weeks since the incident.

The players

Jordan Roberts

A Colorado Springs resident who was making breakfast when the fire started.

James

Roberts' fiancé, who suffered the worst injuries from the fire, requiring skin grafts on his arm and feet.

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What they’re saying

“I decided to run over and grab it and try and carry it outside. And in the process, it burned my arms up pretty good. And I dropped it, and some oil spilled.”

— Jordan Roberts (kktv.com)

“He's had his whole left arm, from pretty much elbow down, has been skin grafted, and they're going to have to skin graft his feet because it was burnt all the way down to his tendons and his feet. So it's going to be a good month, a few months of recovery.”

— Jordan Roberts (kktv.com)

What’s next

A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover the couple's medical bills and other expenses during James' recovery.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the serious risks and potential consequences of kitchen fires, especially those involving hot oil. It underscores the importance of fire safety practices, such as using pan lids or splash guards, avoiding putting water on grease fires, and always staying alert when cooking with hot oil.