Kitchen Fires



Cooking is the leading cause of home fires in North America. You can help reduce the chances of starting a kitchen fire by following a few simple rules:
   Don't leave the kitchen while cooking
   Do not sleep while cooking
   Do not cook while intoxicated
   Keep flammable objects away from heating sources
   Turn off cooking appliances immediately when finished cooking
   Do not wear loose clothing that may come in contact with a heating source and catch fire

If a Kitchen fire does start, here is what to do:

For Pan Fires on Top of the Stove:

A . Alert others in the home - Yell "Fire"
Direct another family member to call 911. Direct all others to get out of the house.

B . Turn off the burner if the burner is in the front of the stove and can be reached without putting your arms, face, sleeves, body, clothing, or hair in the area of the flames or smoke.

C . Cover the pan with a lid if you can accomplish it without putting your body or clothes in the area of the fire.

D . Don't move the pan - the fire could weaken the handle. Skin burns or another fire could result if the pan is dropped. Don't take the lid off until the entire pan cools off while sitting on the stove. If the lid is removed, escaping smoke and fumes released from burned grease or oil can re-ignite.

E . Use a kitchen fire Extinguisher if you don't have a lid handy or if the lid failed to extinguish the fire. Standing several steps back from the stove, activate the fire extinguisher directing the stream at the burning pan and then walk towards the burning pan while spraying the extinguisher. Being to close to the pan when activating the extinguisher can allow the force of the spray to push the burning liquid of the pan.

Never carry A burning Pan. Don't try to put it in the sink or outside. Moving a burning pan can result in burns to the arm as flames are swept back over the arm holding the pan handle. In addition the pan handle may be too hot to hold or starting to melt. A dropped pan can result in fire spreading to cabinets, curtains, flooring, walls, trash, or anything else in the kitchen. The fire may then spread to the whole house.

Never put water on a grease or fuel fire. As water is initially introduced into the burning pan it will boil intensely and can cause the burning liquid to violently spew onto everything nearby. A burning pan moved to the sink is likely to set fire to curtains above the sink.

Make sure the fire department is on the way and the house is evacuated.

If you cannot locate a lid or a fire extinguisher, as a last resort a box of baking soda may be used to extinguish a pan fire. Remove the entire top of the box and sprinkle the baking soda onto the pan using care to not put your arms near the flaming area. Never use flour or baking powder - they burn.

If you extinguish the fire yourself let the fire department check your kitchen cabinets to ensure that the fire did not extend beyond the pan. Also the fire department may assist with smoke removal.

For Oven Fires
   Shut the oven door
   Turn off the heat
   Call the fire department using 911
   Keep the door shut
   Stand ready with a fire extinguisher until the fire department arrives.
   If the fire grows, discharge the extinguisher onto the base of the fire.


For Microwave Fires
   Shut the Microwave door
   Unplug or turn off the Microwave
   Call the fire department using 911
   Keep the door shut
   Stand ready with a fire extinguisher until the fire department arrives.
   If the fire grows, discharge the extinguisher onto the base of the fire.


Precautions:
Unattended cooking is a leading cause of kitchen fires and child scalding burns. Don't leave stovetop cooking unattended. Wear clothes that fit closely to your body when cooking. Stove burners can ignite loose clothing. If clothes catch fire: Stop - Drop - And - Roll. Also yell for assistance.

Mount a UL listed or FM approved fire extinguisher in your kitchen, but away from the stove. We recommend a minimum size of 2-1/2 pounds and minimum 1A-10BC rated. We recommend that the extinguisher have a pressure gauge so that it can be checked to ensure that the propellant gas does not leak.

Any Questions? E-Mail: ehvfc12@hotmail.com
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Last updated March 16, 2006