The kitchen in the above picture burned because of a malfunctioning toaster. The fire caused $150,000 in damage. For the past several years, one-third of the fires TVF&R responded to began in the kitchen.
National Fire Prevention Week is October 4-11th and this year Oregon is focusing on cooking fires. TVF&R is well aware of the devastation caused by cooking fires.
TVF&R suggests the following preventive measures to avoid a kitchen fire:
-Keep your cooking area clean (exhaust fan, oven, and stove top).
-Keep flammable items like dishtowels, potholders, and paper products away from the stove top.
-Keep a close eye on what you’re cooking – never leave cooking unattended, especially when heating oils.
-Always supervise and heat cooking oil slowly due its extreme flammability. Never throw water on a grease or cooking oil fire, or attempt to move a burning pan of oil. These methods increase the spread of fire and your risk of being burned.
To extinguish a small pan fire – ‘Put a Lid on It’
If the fire has not spread outside the pan, the following actions can extinguish a fire.
-Slowly slide a lid or cookie sheet over the burning pan from the side. This will rob the fire of oxygen and smother the fire.
-Turn the burner off to remove the heat source.
-If the fire is spreading outside the pan, exit your home and call 9-1-1.
Every home should also have a fire extinguisher located near the kitchen area. For more safety tips, visit: http://www.tvfr.com/safetytips/fire/prevent/kitchen.aspx.
