How do you respond to a kitchen fire at home?

Answer 1

In case of a kitchen fire, get the extinguisher quickly.

One of the best home safety devices is a large, thick, 100 percent cotton bath towel. Not a thin, worn one you'd otherwise throw out, but a good-quality one.

Keep this towel in your kitchen on a rail or hook; apart from being great to dry hands, comfort small rain-soaked children or pets, or mop up sudden big water spills, it should be your second response to a small domestic fire.

Your first response to a small domestic fire is to calmly but very firmly tell everybody else to get outside and be ready to call emergency. Never, ever, underestimate the speed with which fire can spread.

Now, simply hold out the towel at arms-length, keeping it as flat as possible, turn your face aside, and gently lower the towel onto the centre of the fire. This should stop the fire immediately.

If the fire is getting higher or spreading, soak the towel in water. This takes far too long under a tap; the best way to soak a towel in case of fire is to drop it in the toilet, close the lid, and flush. Take it out and flush as many more towels as you're likely to need, so you have them ready to throw onto the fire or fires, as well as to cover your face for smoke protection.

Since most indoor domestic fires are either electrical, or are happening near electrical equipment, don't use water unless you're one hundred percent certain no electrics are involved or nearby.

For a fire anywhere in the home, use your extinguisher if you have one, provided you're certain it is the right sort of extinguisher for the type of fire. If you don't have an extinguisher, or don't have the right type, use thick, heavy rugs or anything else which will cut oxygen from the fire. Never use synthetic fabrics, and never, ever use cushions or pillows, which will be filled with materials that will not only burn - and feed the fire - but will give off toxic fumes as they burn.

If your fire is clearly spreading beyond the small stage, call emergency, at the same time making absolutely certain all people and pets (in that order) are out of the house. Stay calm and be sure to give the full address and special directions, if necessary, to the emergency operator.

Most importantly: get in touch today with your local fire service and ask them for information on domestic fires and other emergency situations. They'll have heaps of information, which all the family should read and use to formulate some basic, essential, easy-to-remember emergency responses, and maybe make up an emergency kit. Kids love to be involved in this kind of thing, and it's reassuring to them to know people can prepare for bad things that probably wont, but just might, happen.

Being prepared for the unexpected saves lives every single day, and one of those lives you save this way could be your own or that of a loved one.

Answer 2

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