TVF & R By CHRISTINA LENT
Remember to put a lid on cooking fi res |
Cooking is one of the leading causes of home fires and fire injuries . Last year , approximately onethird of the residential fires that Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue responded to began in a kitchen .
TVF & R crews encourage you to minimize your risk of a fire by organizing a safe kitchen and practicing these safe cooking tips :
� Keep a watchful eye on what you are cooking — never leave cooking unattended .
� Keep your cooking area clean , including the stovetop , oven and exhaust fan .
� Keep dish towels and pot holders away from the burners on your stove .
� Watch your sleeves to prevent them from catching fire or getting
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TVF & R shares safety tips when cooking indoors .
caught on pan handles .
� Cooking oil can ignite quickly . Heat oil slowly and watch it closely .
� Keep a fire extinguisher in your
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kitchen . Store it in an easy-to-reach location and know how to use it . The discharge of a portable fire extinguisher only lasts between eight and 10 seconds .
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� Put a lid on it .
The easiest way to extinguish a small pan fire is with a pan lid . Turn off the burner and carefully slide a pan lid over the pan from the side . The lid will “ smother ” the fire , while turning off the burner removes the heat . Do not move the pan until the fire is completely extinguished and the pan is cool . If you do not have a pan lid , you may also use a baking sheet or pizza pan .
Never transfer a burning pan from the stovetop to the sink or out an exterior door . The fire may grow in size and burn you or spread to a countertop , cabinets , or curtains . Grease and water do not mix . Never pour water on a grease fire . Water causes these fires to explode as the burning material stays on top of the water , causing it to spread and putting you at severe risk of getting burned .
If the fire is large and / or continues to grow , do not attempt to extinguish it . Quickly get everyone outside and immediately call 911 from a cellphone or neighbor ’ s house .
For additional safety tips , visit www . tvfr . com .
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