Oven fires are more prevalent than you might realize. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking fires are the primary reason for home fires and injuries. This type of fire can be extremely dangerous, particularly if you lack preparation and knowledge on how to handle such emergencies. When your oven starts burning, you may quickly lose control, and the situation can rapidly get out of hand. Hence, it is vital to be fully prepared to prevent the fire from spreading in such scenarios. This article provides tips on how to safely put out an oven fire in the event it happens in your kitchen.
Types of Oven Fires
The first step to equipping yourself with knowledge on how to safely and properly extinguish an oven fire is to understand the different types of oven fires. Below are the different types of oven fires and their unique characteristics.
Electric Fires
Numerous factors can lead to electric fires in ovens. They could be due to defective wiring, overloaded circuits, or faulty heating components. It is crucial to quickly identify warning signs of a potentially hazardous oven fire, such as a continuous burning smell, sparks or flames, and flickering lights during operation, as this type of fire can pose serious risks.
Grease Fires
This type of fire occurs when oil or fat becomes extremely hot and eventually catches fire. What makes grease fires very dangerous is that they have the tendency to spread quickly. To put out a grease fire, do not use water but instead baking soda or a generous amount of salt. Using water will not extinguish the fire and will only make it worse.
Common Causes of Oven Fires
Oven fires can start due to various reasons, ranging from typical mistakes made by users to electrical issues with the appliance. Grease and oil are at the top of the list of culprits that can easily cause the oven to catch fire when it is exposed to high temperatures. Remember that the cause of an oven fire is not limited to grease and oil. Anything that can ignite and burn, such as greasy or sugary food or any highly combustible item, can catch fire if it spills in the oven.
Failing to clean your oven properly can also result in oven fires. Food leftovers left in the oven can gather at the bottom and possibly result in a burning odor. This can ultimately lead to oven fires if not cleaned up properly.
How to Safely Extinguish an Oven Fire
An oven fire can be considered life-threatening; however, there are a few steps you can take to secure your home in the event it happens in your kitchen.
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Keep the oven closed
You might feel tempted to quickly open the oven when it catches fire, but this is the worst action to take. Adding extra oxygen to the fire could result in its prolongation and potential rapid spread. Keeping the oven closed will allow the fire to go out on its own.
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Shut off the oven
If you are able to turn off the oven safely, do it immediately. Unplug all other electrical appliances nearby to prevent the fire from spreading. Cutting off the heat source is an important step in securing your kitchen.
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Use your fire extinguisher
Not all fires can be put out using water. As a matter of fact, water could make the fire worse and even cause it to spread quickly. Grease fire, for example, will require a specific type of fire extinguisher to be put out. Make sure the extinguisher you have is suitable for your kitchen.
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Ensure proper ventilation
After you have ensured that the fire has already been extinguished, open all your windows and doors in the kitchen to ensure adequate ventilation. By doing so, you are allowing the smoke and the odor to escape the area.
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Call your local fire department
If the fire is too big to be handled on your own, make sure to call your local fire department right away. Do not attempt to put out the fire on your own, as this may be a dangerous action to take. Immediately evacuate the area and wait until the firefighters arrive and have safely extinguished the fire.
Conclusion
Understanding the correct procedure for extinguishing an oven fire is an essential aspect of maintaining kitchen safety. Keep in mind that you can never anticipate any kind of household emergency, particularly if it is related to fire. Ensure the safety of your household members before anything else. Keep the oven closed and immediately turn it off, as well as nearby electrical appliances, to prevent the flame from spreading. Do not attempt to extinguish the fire with water, as not all fires can be put out using water. Instead, grab your fire extinguisher and use it to put out the flame. Lastly, have your family members evacuate the affected area and call your local fire department if the fire gets uncontrollable. The safety of everyone in your household should always be a top priority.
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