Cooking is a routine occurrence in a home and can be easy to forget that the high temperatures can potentially start a fire. Monmouth Fire Chief Casey Rexroat has this advice as to when a homeowner should try and put out a fire and when to call 9-1-1:
“If you happen to have a fire extinguisher, one of those little ones in your kitchen or something like that, when you think that the fire gets beyond what that fire extinguisher can put out or once it gets bigger than what you think you can put out, which is not very much; if it is something contained to the top of the stove and it is not getting anything else on fire and you have a little extinguisher there or a lid you can throw on the pot or pan, you can go ahead and try that. Once that gets beyond that immediate area and you no longer think you can control that with the equipment you have on hand, then immediately get out and call the fire department.”
Remain on alert each and every time you are cooking. Never leave food unattended while frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling. Use a timer to remind you that you are cooking. Keep anything that can catch fire away from the stovetop. Keep a lid nearby that can be used to smother small grease fires by placing the lid on the pot or pan and turning off the stovetop. For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
