It has been three years ago this month I had a kitchen fire and panicked. When the fire got out of hand, all I could think about was calling 911 and getting my dog and myself out of the house. We had extensive fire damage to the kitchen and extensive smoke damage to the entire house. We were out of our house for three months.
As I was reflecting on that experience today, I felt strongly the need to share a few tips with you. The first thing I learned is never, to throw anything on your kitchen counter where you have a smooth top cooking range. I did this as I came into the house with groceries. I then headed to another room in the house to use the bathroom. When I came back to the kitchen, the entire area above the stove top was in flames. I did do the correct thing by calling 911 and getting my dog. I did not remember to use the fire extinguisher, and, to be honest, I doubt I could have put it to good use. Now, I am aware of how to use the extinguisher.
After calling 911, here are a few things you can do. If the fire is contained in your oven, close the oven door immediately and turn the oven off. If it is a small grease fire, put a lid on the pan. Do not lift the lid again or oxygen can start the fire up again. Here are the directions for using your fire extinguisher, read them and commit them to memory. Remove the plastic tie from the handle, pull the pin out and aim the nozzle at the base of the fire. Keeping the extingusher upright, move the extinguisher from side to side until the fire is completely out. If this does not work, back yourself out of the room and get out of there. Again, be sure you have called 911.
If you catch your sleeve on fire or any part of your clothing, STOP, DROP, and ROLL by doing this you are taking oxygen away from the fire, so you never want to wave your clothes around. Thankfully, I was not hurt in my kitchen fire, but the months that followed were very stressful to say the least. Even with insurance, we had a large amount of money we had to pay out of pocket.
Well I know how your feel. I have done the same thing, coming home putting my handbag on my stove top and without my little dog alerting me to the fact there was a fire in my kitchen who knows what would have happened to us. I found a fire blanket was so good, lets hope we both have learnt our lesson.
Hi Bobbie! Everything you mentioned is correct but you forgot one very quick and very thrifty way to put out a grease fire, or most any kind of fire for that matter. One open box of COW BRAND BAKING SODA kept inside your REfRIGERATOR. In case of fire, throw a handful or two directly on the flames. Years ago, I was living at my Mom's house when our tenant phoned and screamed that her apartment was on fire and that the fire was in the electrical box. When I arrived, two local firemen were standing and looking at the fire, unable to do anything. They were holding pressurized water bottles and the flames were in and around the house's electrical box. Water is the last thing you want to throw on such a fire! I stepped between them, threw the Soda at the flames and when the fire went out, shut off the electric current by pulling down the power handle. It was a good lesson for the young firemen and years later it still makes me feel like a hero.
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