Knowledge, preparation essential in preventing home cooking fires Published March 21, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Cynthia A. Haughton Nellis Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- According to U.S. Fire Administration Statistics for 2010, cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires. The Nellis Fire Department recently responded to a cooking fire in base housing that, with a little extra vigilance, could have been prevented. During this incident, the resident put a pan of grease into the oven to keep it out of the way until they cleaned the rest of the dishes. The resident forgot about the pan in the oven and turned the oven on to the "clean" setting, which ignited the grease due to the intense heat. The resident then turned off the oven, called 911 and evacuated the home. The best way to extinguish a fire is to prevent the fire from happening in the first place, and with proper cooking preparation, most incidents can be prevented. "The leading cause of cooking fires is unattended cooking," said Staff Sgt. Scott Edgmond, NCO in charge of public education at the Nellis Fire Department. "Stoves, ovens or microwaves should never be left unattended while in use. It is also important to keep from cooking while tired, drinking or taking medication that makes you drowsy." Another important prevention method is to plug cooking devices or any item that pulls a large amount of amps directly into the wall because extension cords or surge protectors could overload. "If a fire starts while cooking, you should first assess the situation and determine whether or not it would be safe for you to extinguish it yourself," Sergeant Edgmond said. "If you do not feel comfortable fighting the fire, you should immediately exit the area to your evacuation point and call 911. If you feel that you can extinguish the fire safely, it is important to proceed with caution." Sergeant Edgmond added that it is still important to call 911 if any kind of fire starts, even if it can be extinguished safely. Here are some scenarios and procedures to extinguish home cooking fires: -Stove fire: If a small fire starts in a pot or pan, put on an oven mitt, cover the pot or pan with a lid and turn off the stove. Do not remove the lid until the pot or pan has cooled completely. Never, under any circumstances, put water on a grease fire, as this is an unstable combination that will increase the size and intensity of the fire. -Oven fire: If a small fire starts in an oven, immediately turn off the heat and shut the oven door if it is open to contain the fire. Do not open the oven door or remove anything until the oven has completely cooled. Opening the door while the oven is still hot could supply enough oxygen to possibly reignite the fire. -Microwave fire: Like the procedure for the oven fire, immediately turn the microwave off and keep the door shut. Unplug the device from the wall if it can be done safely without coming into contact with any flames. If these methods fail to extinguish the fire, and there is a fire extinguisher rated for the type of fire nearby, follow the instructions on the extinguisher to put out the fire, keeping a clear emergency exit to the rear. If that fails, evacuate the area and wait for the fire department. "If your clothing happens to catch fire at any time, stop; drop; cover your face; and roll until the fire is out," Sergeant Edgmond said. "After extinguishing the flames, you should immediately cool the burn with cool water for three to five minutes and seek medical care." For any questions regarding cooking safety, fire extinguisher training, or tips to make your home safe for any type of emergency, contact the Nellis Fire Department at 652-9630.
