How to Prevent and Extinguish Cooking Fires
Fire prevention in the kitchen only takes a few steps. Simply paying attention to the stove can prevent most kitchen fires. While cooking, check the food on the stove or in the oven. The flame should be at an appropriate height so that food cooks at the proper temperature and does not burn. Cooking oil, wax, fat, and grease, even butter or margarine, should not be left unattended while heating, they self-ignite if overheated. If smoking occurs, reduce the heat.
Keep loose hair, clothing, dishtowels, potholders, etc away from the stove. Keep mitten type potholders handy to remove burning pots from a stove. If you have young children, teach them that the stove, oven, and knobs are not playthings. If you have to step away from the kitchen for a moment, lower the heat or turn off the burner.
The kitchen fan and its filters are grease collectors and they, too, can be fire hazards. The filter should be washed in hot water and detergent monthly. Also, at least once a year, clean the fan hood with hot water.
Fire extinguishers are rated for the class and size of the fire they are capable of extinguishing. Class A signifies a wood or plastic fire. Class B signifies a grease or flammable liquid fire. Class C signifies an electrical equipment fire. The number preceding the letter on an extinguisher indicates the approximate size of each class of fire it can put out. The higher the number from one to ten, the greater the fire fighting capacity.
A sodium bicarbonate dry-chemical fire extinguisher, rated Class B, works best on grease fires and is an excellent choice to keep in the kitchen. Many come with wall mounting brackets, but try removing one from its bracket in the store because quick removal is difficult on some.
An all-purpose extinguisher is also a good choice to keep near the kitchen. Usually larger and more expensive than a Class B extinguisher, these may be either dry-chemical or vapor, which leaves no powdery residue but is less effective against “flashback,” the reflaring of a just-extinguished fire.
Know how to operate the fire extinguisher. Check the owner’s manual to learn from its effective reach. Stand back 6 feet from a grease fire, between the fire and the escape route. Closer than 6 feet you risk being burned by splattering grease. Avoid breathing the smoke fumes. Aim at the base of the fire and spray with a quick side-to-side motion.
Check the pressure gauge on a fire extinguisher periodically. If it is low or the extinguisher has been used, have it recharged by an extinguisher service company to maintain its effectiveness.
Fire spreads fast so you must react quickly. If you have familiarized yourself beforehand, you will know what to do under pressure. If a fire occurs, bring it under control quickly.
Smoke inhalation can bring about suffocation, the cause of death often associated with fires. Air supply is cut off before flames can cause extensive harm. Get into the fresh air as soon as possible after exposure to smoke.
Smoke and poisonous fumes make breathing difficult and can overwhelm you quickly. Cover your face with a damp cloth and get close to the floor where smoke is less dense. Should the fire get out of hand, call the fire department. Post emergency numbers by each telephone in your home. Close off the room if possible and place clothes or bedding at the bottom of the doors. Exit the house quickly.
In case of a fire, here is a shortened version of the above:
-Turn off the burner or oven and do not panic. Smother a stovetop fire by covering with a large lid to cut off oxygen supply. Do not use water on a grease fire because it will cause the fire to flare.
-Turn off the hood fan so the fire does not spread into the ducts. If the fire enters the ducts, call the fire department immediately.
-Remove a burning pan from the stove, taking care to protect your hair, hands and clothing.
-Use a sodium bicarbonate dry-chemical fire extinguisher on fires that cannot be smothered with a lid. If a fire extinguisher is unavailable, smother the flames by throwing large amounts of table salt or baking powder on them.
-If you clothes catch fire, do not run. Spray water on your clothes using the sink spray hose. Fire prevention specialists also suggest that you “stop, drop and roll” on the ground to smother the fire. Wrap a blanket or coat around you if one is handy and then roll on the ground.
If a fire is not extinguished quickly, call the fire department. Give them your address and the cause and location of the fire.
