Imagine this . . .
You are cooking for whatever reason. Everything is going great and you are getting ready to fry some chicken fish or protein of your choice. All of a sudden when you go to place your protein on the pan and Phoom!! (Fire sound effect!!!!)
YOUR PANS ON FIRE!
THE FLAMES ARE GOING EVERYWHERE!
ITS HOT AND STARTING TO SPREAD!
WHAT DO YOU DO!!
WATER OF COURSE! DUHHH
WRONG!!!
Congratulations you just created a fireball and your house is now officially on fire.
Knowing about fires when you cook are learning to cook is important. Anyone who cooks should know how to:
Identify a fire
How to control it
Which fire extinguisher to have
How to use it
Types of Fire
These are the type of fires you might experience when coking inside or outside.
Class A Fire
Ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and many plastics.
Class B Fire
Flammable liquids such as gasoline, petroleum greases, tars, oils, oil-based paints, solvents, alcohols.
Also, include flammable gases such as propane and butane.
Class C Fire
Fires that involve energized electrical equipment such as computers, servers, motors, transformers, and appliances
Class D Fire
Fires in combustible metals such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium, and potassium.
Class K Fire
Fires in cooking oils and greases such as animal and vegetable fats.
How to control a K Fire
K fires are the ones that everyone might face when cooking. As mentioned above it involves Cooking Oils, Grease, Animal and Vegetable Fats. I am sure at one point you have experienced or seen water come in contact with hot oil. It does not take a genius to realize that OIL HATES WATER!
So when you have a K fire what should you do?
First, try your best to CALM DOWN so you are able to think properly and remember what you have read.
Second TURN OFF THE HEAT and MOVE THE PAN AWAY FROM THE HEAT
Third, if the fire is still going you want to SUFFERCATE IT. Fire needs oxygen to keep going, find a lid that you can quickly throw on the pan to reduce the amount of oxygen it gets.
Usually, that is enough to stop the fire, but if by any chance the fire is still going here is what you should do next. Call the fire department, if you have a fire extinguisher great! use it just make sure it is the correct one. If you don’t have one shame! you should buy one its always better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it.
Extinguisher for your home
When looking at fire extinguishers for your home, there are many to chose from.
Water and Foam
ONLY for A fires
Carbon Dioxide
Can be used for B and C fires
Dry Chemical
It can be used for B and C fires. Also with A fires but only to create a barrier around the fire.
Wet Chemical
When cooking this is the fire extinguisher that you want to have. It removes the heat from the fire and prevents it from re-igniting by creating a barrier between the oxygen and fuel element
Clean Agent
Can be used on A, B, and C fires
Dry Powder
Can be used on D fires
Water Mist
Can be used on A and C fires
Cartridge Operated Dry Chemical
Can be used for A, B, and C fires
How to use a fire extinguisher
When there is a fire as weird as it may sound you want to make sure you read the instructions on how to use the extinguisher ESPECIALLY if you have never done it before.
If you ever have to actually use a fire extinguisher just remember PASS
Pull the pin
Aim the hose at the base of the fire
Squeeze the lever to discharge the fire extinguishing agent
Sweep the hose from side to side until the fire is out