On Saturday, Ava and I took the kids to an Emergency Services open day. One of the things the fireservice were keen to demonstrate was what not to do if you have a chip pan fire. The pan had barely a flame on it as the fireman tipped just a small beaker full of regular tap water onto the pan, and WHOOSH, flames skywards! Little girls all around me started crying! The heat and the noise was amazing.
A very good reminder of what NOT to do if a pan of hot oil catches light in your kitchen. And hopefully everyone here has a working smoke alarm or 2.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a364/Mrsava/fire1.jpg) (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a364/Mrsava/fire2.jpg)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a364/Mrsava/fire.jpg)
:) i have recently been on a fire extinguisher course and put a fire out it is a constant fear especially when you have kids we all know that smoke alarms can be a nuisance always going off while you are cooking but i think i would prefer that to what has recently happened i would like to say that for those that can afford them there are smoke alarms that you can press a button to disable it for a short time while you are cooking and they last 10 years on the same battery if you do happen to have a real fire the delay will deactivate i have 2 and wont be with out them you can get free smoke alarms from the fire service now :)
Can I get a free Fireman to go with it??? ;DÂ ;D
But on a serious note, when I was a kid our neighbour had a chip pan fire, the devatasion it caused to her house will stay with me forever! She also made the BIGGEST mistake of trying to move it outside when it started smoking, it hit the cold air and whoosh! (see EJ's pics!)Â Luckily she got away with only her eyebrows singed.
I was always taught at college that when deep frying, to have a well fitting lid close by, so that if it starts to smoke, on with the lid and leave until cool, we did ignite a big pan once cooking chicken kievs, college lecturer put it out!
I have always been petrified of deep frying, and it is very rare I deep fry anything, but if I do, lid to hand always!!
With my smoke detector (only 1, small house!) I change the battery when the clocks change, good way to remember to do it!)
DP
QuoteI change the battery when the clocks change
A very good tip. Some also make a beeping noise when the batteries get low. Careful placement can stop the alarm going off when you are cooking - obviously you wouldn't put on in the kitchen above the cooker, for example. (My mum's neighbour put hers away from the oven, but above where she keeps her toaster, so my mum now knows whenever she's burning the toast!! ;D )
Teehee Dawn! Ours is outside the kitchen door in the hallway, and yup, whenever I am cooking brekky, of it goes, and everyone arrives ready to eat! ;D
Ours go off for no reason ??? Very annoying. But we have to remember they are there to save our lives, and that is what they do. Thank God! ;D ;D :D
you see why I'm so terrified of chip pans now! (maybe a little has to do with my hips too!)
Was quite surprised one day when the door bell rang and not one but two dishy firemen stood there offering to fit our house with fire alarms for free. Just couldn't say no ;) 10 year batteries in them too.
Dear Doris
Take one chip pan over heat add water and youll have as many firemen as you can handle lol
err im not recommending this method mind lol
B*gger that carloso, I am moving to where Jill lives if they turn up on your doorstep without having to ignite anything! ;D
It was very interesting to read some of your comments on this subject. I am a Fire Officer in the West Midlands Fire Service and we have a policy of fitting smoke detectors in properties where the owner has requested a Home Fire Risk Assessment. This a completely free service that can be requested through our web site at www.wmfs.co.uk, by dialling 0800 389 5525 or by contacting your local Fire Station. Other Brigades provide a similar service and you may want to contact your local station for details.
The most important thing to say is that if you do have a smoke detector make sure that it is working, that it is tested regularly (once a month) that the battery is changed annually (unless it is fitted with a 10 year battery) and that it is in the correct position. If it goes off every time you cook, perhaps it needs to be in a different location, or try to keep the door closed whilst cooking. DO NOT disable it or remove the battery!
If the unthinkable does happen and you have a chip pan fire-
DO NOT move the pan
DO NOT put water on the fire
If you can, turn off the cooker
Shut the door to the kitchen
GET OUT!
CALL THE FIRE BRIGADE OUT!
STAY OUT!
We reccommend that chip pans are never left unattended, that they are only filled with oil to a third of the depth of the pan, that food is dry before putting it into the hot oil and if you can afford to, throw the chip pan away and get an electric deep fat fryer.
Further information and advice can be found at www.firekills.gov.uk
Sorry if the tone of my post is a little stern but I have seen the devastation and misery that these types of incidents can cause, please don't let it happen to you.
Andy
You be as stern as you like Andy! The demo terrified number one daughter, and even though I had seen it on TV loads of times, to actually see if, hear it and feel the intesity of the heat from a safe distance was amazing!
Everyone MUST have a fire alarm or 2 (or 3 in my mothers case) in their house.
was reading this as was gonna make crisps! Won`t bother now...
That fire looks like fun if done outside! :-X
As for smoke alarms! The parrot has just replicated a low battery noise!