Kitchen Fires
Never throw water on a grease fire. Oil and water don't mix, and water would cause the burning grease to be sprayed around the room and possibly onto you.
For a grease fire in a pan on the stove, cover the pan with its lid if you can do it without getting burned. The lack of oxygen should put out the fire.
If you can't put a lid on a pan with burning grease, throw baking soda over the fire.
If you open the oven door and see flames, close the door and turn the oven off. The lack of oxygen should put out the fire. If you see flames in a closed oven, don't open the door unless you have a fire extinguisher
ready or a can of baking soda to throw on it. The extra oxygen will fan the flames.
A regular can of baking soda is pretty small for putting out a fire. Pour two or three cans worth into one large can to keep near the stove. Don't keep the can on the stove or in a cupboard above the stove, or you would either never be able to get to it or you could get burned trying.
Close the window when you cook if you have curtains near the stove. They could blow near enough to the flame to light on fire.
If kitchen curtains do catch on fire and you do not have a fire extinguisher seconds away, call the Fire Department before even thinking about trying to put out the fire yourself. The fire could spread in seconds.
A fire extinguisher is a good thing to have in any kitchen. You can hang it on the inside of a cupboard door (if it is not near the stove) if you don't like the look of it. Fire extinguishers need to be checked, refilled, or replaced occasionally (read the labels) or they may be of no use when you need them. Read and follow the label instructions before a fire could occur because you would not have time to read after a fire starts.
