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GREASE FIRE. PUT A LID ON THEM.
Unless you happen to be a welder, cooking is probably the life activity that brings you closest to intense sources of heat – and the fire dangers they represent. So it is only smart to be a little extra fire-wise in the kitchen. Here’s how.
If you are cooking, dress for the job. A tall white chef’s hat is not necessary – but a top with tight, no-nonsense sleeves is a must. Balloon sleeves and frills con come too close to a hot burner or pan and ignite. If you’re cooking foods that spatter, a good apron may protect you from burns while it keeps your clothes clean.
Be prepared for kitchen fires. Hot grease can burn – and the line between hot enough to fry and hot enough to burn can be a thin one. So always keep an eye on that frying pan. If the phone or door bell rings, take the pan off the burner before you answer the phone or door.
If grease does ignite, fast action can avert disaster. First of all, DON’T try to carry the burning pan outside or to the sink. You may trip or drop the pan, spilling flaming liquid on yourself; or the flaming pan in your hand may ignite curtains, upholstery or woodwork as you rush through the kitchen with it. So leave the burning pan on the stove.
DO NOT put water on the grease fire. This will just spatter the grease and make a bigger fire. It is simple to extinguish the fire by putting a lid, or a larger pan, firmly over the burning pan. This shuts off the fire’s air supply, effectively smothering it.
You can also extinguish pan fires with an approved fire extinguisher. Operate the extinguisher remembering PASS; PULL the pin, AIM the nozzle at the base of the fire, SQEEZE the handle and SWEEP the nozzle back and forth.
It is fire-wise to know how to deal with kitchen fires, but remember – only care in cooking can keep them from happening in the first place. |