You’ve gone through the kitchen estimates and the research to figure out what is the average cost of a kitchen remodel. You went through the weeks of renovation for the beautiful brand new kitchen. You did it all, and finally it’s that time of the year again! Thanksgiving is just around the corner, which means it’s time to show off your beautiful new kitchen to your family and friends… so long as it’s still there. While Thanksgiving is a time to show off your kitchen, it’s also the number one day for kitchen fires! Fortunately, we here at Mihalko’s Fire and Water Restoration know how to deal with a grease fire and want to share that information with you.
While it may be one’s first reaction to pour water on a grease fire, this is exactly what you SHOULD NOT do. Pouring water on a pan of burning oil will result in a fireball that can severely burn the one who poured the water, as well as cause the fire to travel to cabinets and/or curtains and other loose hanging articles. Another common reaction is to use a water based fire extinguisher or a wet kitchen towel. Unfortunately, neither of these solutions will result in putting out the fire either. In fact, using a wet towel can cause the fire to blow out from the sides of the pan, and using a water based fire extinguisher will cause the fire to double in size and could also splash fire to different surfaces. Finally, the worst way to try to put out a fire is to attempt to carry the pan with the burning grease outdoors. This can result in splashing grease and fire on your clothes, skin, and many other parts of the house.
The best way to put out a grease fire in a pan is also the most simple way. Leave the pan where it is and quickly grab the pans cover. Cover the pan using a motion away from your body, shut off the stove, and then let the pan sit for 20 minutes. If you do not have the pans cover, a flat cookie tray can also suffice as a cover so long as it covers the entire flaming pan. Covering the pan will cut off the fires oxygen, prevent any splashes, and allow the now burning oil a sufficient amount of time to cool.
Thanksgiving should be a happy time of year and will be so long as you take the correct safety measure when cooking in your beautiful new kitchen. Unfortunately, accidents can happen and sometimes do. When they do, it’s important that you call someone you can trust. Call a family company that has been serving the Johnstown PA, Latrobe PA and Altoona PA area for over 34 years. Call Mihalko’s Fire and Water Restoration for your fire restoration needs.
