What To Do When Your Kitchen Catches On Fire

4/7/2020 (Permalink)

A fire in the kitchen can happen with no warning, and you will need to act fast to keep it from getting out of control. Take stock of what kind of fire you have and where it is so that you can act appropriately. 

Here are some tips on what to do when your kitchen catches on fire:

• If the fire starts in your oven, turn the oven off and close the door immediately; make sure to leave the door closed. Lack of oxygen will suffocate the flames. 
• If the oven continues to smoke and you think the fire may be building, call the fire department right away. 
• When you experience a fire in your cooking pan or pot, use your oven mitt to put the lid on right away, and move it off the burner. Turn off the stove and wait for the lack of oxygen to stop the flames inside your pot. 
• If you are not able to safely put the lid on the flaming pan, or if there is no lid readily available, put your fire extinguisher to work. Always aim at the base of the fire, not the flames themselves. 
• Never use water to put out a grease fire. Water repels grease and can spread the fire by splattering the grease when you apply it. Try one of these methods instead:
• If the fire is small, put on the lid and turn off the burner.
• Throw plenty of baking soda on it. Flour is not a good substitute here; it can explode or make the fire even worse. 
• Smother the fire with a wet towel or other large cloth. 
• Use a fire extinguisher. 
• Caution: Swatting the fire with a towel, apron, or other material, is likely to fan the flames and spread the fire. 
• If the fire is spreading and you don’t have control, get every person and pet out of the house and call 911! 

For cleanup after any type of fire, the SERVPRO of Hermitage/Donelson team is here to help, and we can be on the scene right away. We are also experts in cleanup from water damage, as well as mold prevention and remediation.