by Hannah Russell

Created on: May 11, 2010   Last Updated: January 09, 2011

While cooking, it is imperative to remember that there are many hazardous situations around the kitchen. There are knives, raw foods, children walking around your feet, cupboard doors and more. There is also heat, and if we learned anything in elementary school science, it is that heat, plus fuel, plus oxygen equals fire.  It is easy to forget that you had something on the stove and smell something burning, turning around to find that you have a fire.  Fires can be started by electrical wires in your kitchen, by flames that you light, or by grease or food that got overcooked. There are three main classes of fires in the kitchen:  electrical fires, grease fires and wood, paper or cloth fires.  It is important to remember that no two fires are the same and they are each extinguished differently.  In the event of a kitchen fire, it is also important to stop, calm down, think and consider quickly, but effectively, about what needs to be done.

Fires on wood, paper or cloth are easily extinguished with water or a standard, Class A fire extinguisher.  These fires are usually cool burning and easy to contain.  To prevent these fires, make sure that your recipe book is away from the stove while cooking and that no oven mitts or towels are near the burners.  Remember, flammable objects do not have to be touching the heat source in order to ignite from it. Keeping your stove clean can also help prevent these fires.

Electrical fires should never be extinguished with water.  Because water conducts electricity, throwing water on an electrical fire could result in electrocution. The best way to extinguish electrical fires is with a Class C fire extinguisher.  However, if you do not have a Class C fire extinguisher, throwing baking soda onto the fire will sufficiently extinguish the fire.  In order to prevent electrical fires, do not overload circuits and maintain all cords and plugs, watching for frayed cords.

Grease fires should also not be extinguished with water.  Grease is a liquid, and so throwing another liquid into it will cause it to splatter and severe burns may result.  Grease fires can be extinguished with baking soda, or by smothering the fire with a pan lid. These fires can also be extinguished with a Class B fire extinguisher. Do not try to get the fire outside.  The grease may splatter and burns or further fires may result. The best way to prevent grease fires is to watch all grease carefully and to not put the stove on high when cooking with grease.

If you are burnt while extinguishing a fire, finish extinguishing the fire and then treat your burns immediately.  Be aware of how serious burns can be.  If it is a small, first-degree burn, aloe vera and cool water should be effective. However, if you see immediate blistering, bleeding or charred flesh, you are in a state of medical emergency. 

Remember, small fires can be extinguished using the above steps.  However, if flames expand, do not try to extinguish the fire.  Get yourself and everyone in the house out.  If you clothing or hair is on fire, stop immediately, drop to the floor and roll until the fire is out.  Also, remember not to turn on your exhaust fan if you see flames.  This can blow the flames towards the wall and start a house fire.

Cooking can be a safe, relaxing activity, so long as you are aware of what to do should the need arise.  If you remember these rules and act quickly and calmly, you should be all right. Happy cooking!

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