I remember that one time mom and dad almost burned the kitchen down.
Mom had a pot of stew going on the stove and left on an errand, confident dad would keep an eye on it. He did not. By the time she got back, the stew was burning, the house was hazy with smoke, and dad was still lazing on the couch a few metres away, blissfully unaware of the danger.
Boy, he got an earful from us afterwards.
I can laugh about it today, but kitchen fires are no joke. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home fire injuries, with unattended cooking being the top cause of cooking fires and fire deaths. Cooking safety is also the theme of this year’s Fire Prevention Week (which this year runs from Oct. 8 to 14).
Kitchens are full of heat, flames, and combustible fat, any of which can start a raging inferno if not managed carefully, said chef and former St. Albert resident Scott Downey. That’s why his kitchen at The Butternut Tree in Edmonton has fireproof walls and fire extinguishers on standby.
Downey said it’s vital to pay attention when cooking, as a spilled sauce or splash of fat can quickly escalate into a fire.
The NFPA says to stay in the kitchen when frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food, and to turn off the stove if you have to leave. Check food that you are simmering, baking, or roasting regularly, using timers as reminders. Keep mitts, towels, packaging, and other flammable objects away from stoves and slow cookers, and don’t use the stove if you’re tired or have consumed alcohol.
Most important of all is to keep a one-metre-radius kid-and-pet-free zone around your stove and grill, said St. Albert Fire Services fire prevention officer Ryan Harley. Pets and kids are distractions and can bump into you, both of which can result in spills, burns, and fires.
Argh! Fire!
If something does catch fire in the kitchen, your first instinct will be to throw water on it, which could be a terrible idea, Downey said.
“If you add water to a grease fire, it will expand rapidly,” he said, and if you throw it on a short-circuiting electrical appliance, you risk electrocution.
There are a few simple steps to follow when fighting a kitchen fire, Harley and Downey explained. If an appliance is involved, unplug it if possible. If the fire doesn’t involve fat or oil, extinguish it with water. If it does involve fat or oil and is small, smother it with a pot lid. If the fire is in the oven, turn off the oven and keep the door closed to smother it.
Never try to pick up or move a flaming pot or pan, Harley said. He has seen many cases where doing so splashed fiery liquid everywhere, causing more damage and injury.
Store a hose-equipped fire extinguisher near your kitchen (the ones with hoses have the necessary capacity for house fires) and use it if you feel comfortable fighting a fire, Harley said. To use the extinguisher, remember the acronym “PASS”: Pull the pin, Aim the hose at the base of the fire, Squeeze the trigger, and Sweep the hose from side to side until the fire is out. (Feel free to empty the extinguisher in the process, as you’ll have to replace/recharge it anyway.)
“If you feel uncomfortable about putting out a small fire, leave, just get out,” Harley said, and call 911 once you’re outside.
Visit www.nfpa.org/fpw for more fire safety tips.
