You ask Google. Fastest thing is to soak a dishtowel and drop it over it. All content ©2015 The Big To-Do List, all rights reserved. Aim at … Easier said than done, we know. Learn how your comment data is processed. This was not an old house. The easiest way to do this is to access the electrical main, cutting power off entirely. That would kill me, and I don't think I'd ever get over it. Such a simple thing but I hadn't thought of it before. The easiest way to do this is to access the electrical main, cutting power off entirely. This photo is from a house in which 4 outlets caught fire and had 2 blown switches (click the image to full-size). At this point, you also might wish to call 9-1-1- … Wikibuy Review: A Free Tool That Saves You Time and Money, 15 Creative Ways to Save Money That Actually Work. Make sure that you know where your circuit box is and that it is readily accessible: never cover it or obscure the path to your circuit breaker. If you do not have the appropriate type of outlets for your appliances, hire an electrician to install new ones. Leave the oven door closed. In addition, you should cut power to your home so that you can open and inspect outlets periodically: look for frayed wiring or singes that suggest an electrical problem. I'm pretty careful with the appliances, but I'm just concerned about the old wiring in the house. The lint on the coils now catches on fire when the dryer is started! 4. Either cover the fire with a metal pot lid (if the fire is in a pan, this should work well, but I’m a burner where there is other access to air it might not work), pour baking soda on the flames (you will need a lot, so if not readily accessible you’re probably better off not wasting your time finding it), or use a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. The baking soda is a good idea too. If a fire had started on my stove or in my microwave, I would have poured water on it without knowing that it could electrocute me. Put out the Fire or Spark With Water Never, ever try and put out an electric fire with water. exciting challenge of being a wiseGEEK researcher and writer. The lack of oxygen will stop the flames in a pot. If you’ve ever tried to search for answers online, you probably didn’t come up with very much. In other words, they turn the stove on, and check the temperature of the burner, and keep checking the temperature until it stops increasing — just to make sure the burner doesn't ultimately set the entire stove on fire. If the fire looks out of hand, get your family out of the house and call emergency services. Fire prevention is important and relatively easy, and if you use common sense, you should not have to deal with an electrical fire. Since manufacturers design ovens with fire-control features, you shouldn’t open the oven door during a fire. If you have an extinguisher and use that, remember it will contaminate your food and kitchen and should be properly cleaned up. Glad all turned out to be okay for you, despite the scary situation! Point is, electric cars can catch fire in certain situations (just like a gas powered car) and since they're new, people will freak out about it for a while. 1. Clearly what is necessary is to scream and flap your arms while exclaiming “What do I do! Apply this method only on really small, smoking grease splatters. spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors. If an electrical fire starts, you should immediately turn off power to the circuit and the rest of the structure. The right cause of action is to turn the oven off and keep the oven door completely shut. For small fires, you may be able to use baking soda to smother the flames. Good tip though – many don’t know that! I did know that you never pour water on a fire in the kitchen in case it’s a grease fire. If a fire is developing and you cannot get the electricity turned off or it is growing rapidly, call the fire department. Do not use water. Part of that testing involves ensuring they hit thermal stability. Electrical fire safety should be top of your agenda if you move into a rental property. As with any fire, if it is growing quickly or looks unsafe, evacuate immediately with household pets and children; leave your belongings behind and never re-enter any type of burning structure until a fire crew says it is safe to do so. Do Not Forget to Turn Off Heat Sources A forgotten burner or overheated oven can start a fire long after you are too far away to know or stop it. Turn off the heat if it is safe to do so, but never lean over the pan to the controls, switch off the supply at the meter if necessary. An electrical fire can start small, but spread quickly, especially if the fire is located inside a socket, meaning that the fire can travel through the wall before you are aware of it. I always pay for an electrician to check things over before I sign the lease. Follow these simple guidelines to keep your home safe from electrical fires. If it's someone else, smother the flames with a wet towel if you have one, a dry one if not, and put the flames out. Firefighters say if this happens, you can use a lid to suffocate the flames, but be careful when placing the lid on the pot. If an electric skateboard catches fire or explodes during normal use, this would likely qualify as grounds for a product liability lawsuit unless the user somehow manipulated the battery or failed to adhere to the instructions for use included with the device. Because I tend to be prone to boil-overs and other mishaps, I keep a big pot lid or metal pan nearby at all times in case I need to smother some flames. If you want to line the pan, use oven-safe parchment paper. Remember that all fires need oxygen to burn, so your best plan of attack is to cut off the oxygen supply to the pan or pot. Ahhh!!! Fire erupted from underneath the element. The first thing you want to do is unplug the device from the power source and call the fire department. DO NOT pour flour on a fire. Do not attempt to move the pan, because the burning oil could either spill and burn you or spread the fire throughout the kitchen. I have a Kenmore Electric stove/oven with the self cleaning option. Which can also happen if you make mistake number three - reaching through a fire to shut off the knob on the back panel of an electric range. "Unless the fire is chasing you around the room, relax," Huffman instructs, "because now is the time to think straight—it's decision time." Follow these simple guidelines to keep your home safe from electrical fires. One of the most important things to remember is to never pour water onto a grease fire. if its too big spray water on it while you all 911 for help. If a pan of food or chip pan catches fire do not attempt to remove from the stove, it could give you terrible burns if incorrectly handled. You can find this information here, directly from eHow. Ask yourself, do I need to escape, or are the flames small enough to stay behind and fight? Although this may have worked for the time being, we worried about the flood that had now claimed our stove top and if it would be a hazard with the electrical stove, and wondered what we really should have done to return our surprise fire-cooking burner back to the electrical element we are used to. What you should do is use a cookie sheet or a lid "and just slide it over top of it and let it smother itself out," a firefighter told us during a demonstration. And keeping a canister of baking soda next to the stove might not be a bad idea, either. Call emergency services. If you have a fire in a cooking pan, use an oven mitt to clap on the lid, then move the pan off the burner, and turn off the stove. Before restoring power, have a licensed electrician inspect your wiring. You can read more about this here. Turn off the oven and allow the fire to burn out on its own. Never leave any heat producing appliance such as a stove, heater, or electric blanket on while you are out of the house, and always keep a close eye on heaters, using them at least 3 feet (1 meter) away from furniture and curtains. How to Extinguish an Electrical Fire. Wait for the fire to exhaust itself in your oven. Our oven blew a burner and burned until we hit it with fire extinguisher. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. These fires also require special measures, because of the unique way in which the fire starts. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. But keeping calm could prevent flames from engulfing your home. (Never had much luck getting the landlord to do that!). Required fields are marked *. When flames surprise your culinary adventures, what you should do is the following: Either cover the fire with a metal pot lid (if the fire is in a pan, this should work well, but I’m a burner where there is other access to air it might not work), pour baking soda on the flames (you will need a lot, so if not readily accessible you’re probably better off not wasting your time finding it), or use a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. Never use wax paper, which isn't heat-resistant and could melt or catch on fire in the oven. I had the thought of dousing the fire with a pile of flour while I flailed, but luckily, Hubs ran to the rescue and poured a good splash of water from a pot onto the flames, putting out the fire and creating an exquisite soup a la stovetop. Sometimes these have very old outlets, and if fully furnished, the equipment may not be in the best shape. If grease catches on fire in your cooking pan, quickly put on the oven mitt, then place the lid over the pan to smother the fire. Instead, reach for that Class C fire extinguisher, which can effectively put out fires that originate around wiring, outlets, appliances and circuit breakers. Under no circumstances should you use water, as it is a conductor and it may electrocute you. This article has given me a tremendous amount of great information, much needed after a friend just lost her home to an electrical fire. @StarJo – You should definitely get a fire extinguisher. Flour is a great explosive, apparently, and is a great way to turn bad to worse with a *BOOM*. A stovetop fire is a bit more dangerous, explains Mancuso. What do I do!” (Note: this isn’t actually what you should do.). Only use extension cords as a temporary measure. Everyone should own one. When there is an oven coil sparking, the sparks may ignite grease on the element. Some people say that pouring salt or baking soda over grease fires can put them out, but this works only on small-scale ones. Electric stoves can overheat and catch on fire, just like any electric appliance or device. An electrical fire can be scary and extremely dangerous, but there are ways to be prepared in case of an emergency. A little while ago I had a bit of a kitchen mishap. If there is a fire in the oven, turn off the heat source. An electrical fire can be scary and extremely dangerous, but there are ways to be prepared in case of an emergency. If an electrical fire starts, you should immediately turn off power to the circuit and the rest of the structure. Leave the oven door closed! I now think I need to get a fire extinguisher. You can also toss baking soda on the fire, which is a better way to treat an electrical fire than closing the door, but it still isn't enough. By continuing to use this site, you consent to the use of cookies. You’d need a bucket or two of baking soda to smother a grease fire if it’s out of control. Sorry for the choppy sentence structure, or whatnot, but a mere 5 minutes ago, as I was attempting to make an omelet, my burner caught on fire. Have a piece of writing you'd like to share here? Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the I live out in the country, and response time from the fire department can be slower than in the city. A Class C chemical fire extinguisher can be used to help put out an electrical fire. My cousin lost her whole house because of this type of fire. It was on "high", and usually never is, and I foolishly left it unattended while I went to the refrigerator to get an ingredient I forgot. The majority of kitchen fire calamities happen because the stove was left unattended. The saucepan of oil on the stove catches fire? If you do not feel secure inspecting your own wiring, hire a licensed electrician to do it. I never leave my pets inside when I'm not home. Even after you call you may be able to get it out yourself, but it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to a fire. UL tests just about every stove that hits the market. Cover the flames with a metal lid or cookie sheet. Check your fire detectors at least twice a year, and make sure to cut power to and investigate any appliances which start to smoke, smell strange, or run erratically. NEVER throw water over it. If you or someone you love catches fire, do the following: • Stop, drop, and roll if it's you. Use a Class C Fire Extinguisher. I rent an old home, and I'm always worried about electrical fires starting spontaneously. If the fire is burning on grease, the water will cause it to splash, spreading the grease and the fire. I heard a heartbreaking story on the news not long ago about a family pet who had perished in a house fire when no one was home. I feel like I should be more prepared. This is really dangerous and could lead to a worse fire or possible electric shock. Incidentally, she had no fire extinguisher, and if she had, she might have been able to stop in before it did major damage. The most common reason any electrical product catches on fire is a short circuit or a large burst of voltage. If you can’t safely put the lid on a flaming pan or you don’t have a lid for the pan, use your fire extinguisher. In most cases you would be right, but that is not always the case. What does one do when a fire breaks out on your stove top? Turn on your exhaust fan if it is off. Researching the topic made me realize how little I knew, and the first thing I did was make sure everyone in the house can locate and turn off the circuit breaker. The general recommendation is always to unplug an appliance if you are not using it. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and Water is also a conductor of electricity and will help spread the fire onto other flammable material … Stay focussed and stay by the stove, friends. If one of your appliances goes up in flames, it’s important not to panic. After you have cut power to the fire, spray it with a Class C chemical extinguisher or use baking soda to smother it. As I was cooking dinner in a daydreaming trance in the kitchen, my hubby brought my attention to the smoke that was streaming up from the burner I was using to massacre some food. Yesterday I was baking a potato casserole and the oven started shooting flames from the bottom. What to do. I have a Kenmore Electric stove/oven with the self cleaning. Stove top caught on fire, electric, quick question? No, no. ! Tue, 26 Nov 2013 22:37:35 GMT — West Florence Fire Department has responded to 11 cooking fires this year so the department held a live fire demonstration for the media Tuesday with what to do when a pot catches fire in the stove or oven. I flipped on the fan, as per his suggestion, and while investigating what was smoking (likely a stray piece of macaroni that had landed under the burner during my wild display that somewhat resembles meal preparation) *BAM*. Take action to extinguish said flames? What can cause a stove fire if nothing is on the stove? If one of your appliances goes up in flames, it’s important not to panic. So, what does one do when you want to know anything nowadays? • Get them down if the person is panicking, you may need to use a leg sweep, but get the person on the ground and the fire … Your email address will not be published. Kitchen Safety: What Not To Do When Your Stove Catches Fire, a culinary disaster like the previous post. Some people think that because of the age of their home, they should be fine and everything should be in great working order. Start by never overloading circuits, maintaining appliances and electronics with care, and inspecting your wiring on a regular basis. Yikes! It only takes minutes for an unattended pot of oil to catch fire, so never turn your back on it! Frayed or exposed wiring should be replaced to prevent the risk of fire. In general, firefighters will be better equipped to fight a fire that has live electricity in the mix than you will be. It may sound like a tough call to make, but the decision comes down to some pretty simple logic, Huffman … Turn off the heat source, and let it cool down where it is. DO NOT pour water on a (grease) fire. The first step in dealing with an electrical fire is, of course, prevention, but in the instance that a fire starts in your home or workplace, you should be prepared to take proper measures. If you cannot deal with the fire, close the door on the way out, and call 000. Doing so only increases the oxygen supply to the oven, which in turn worsens the fire. Then turn off the power at the electrical panel to prevent the fire from growing. If it does not go out on its own, leave the house and call 911. Today we’ll be sharing with you 5 Common Causes of a Sparking Electric Range. A small electrical fire can cause your entire home to go up in flames if it isn't stopped rapidly. If you have an extinguisher and use that, remember it will … A sparking electric stove is a bit of a rare occurrence, but when it does happen it’s usually because of one of a few common causes. This is what our scholarly search turned up about dealing with a kitchen fire. turn it off (gas stove) and use sand, baking soda or a ABC extinguisher. It may be counterintuitive, but water can make a grease fire worse. Never throw water on a grease fire. Make sure to use appliances responsibly to avoid an electrical fire, and follow directions closely. I realize that it's not feasible for everyone, especially city folks, to let their dogs out when they leave, but I live in a rural area, and I want them to have a chance to escape in case the house catches on fire. I'm so glad I read this article. This time, it wasn’t to do as much with a culinary disaster like the previous post, but a slightly more serious affair. Even if you think you can take care of the fire yourself, it’s important to have backup if the flames do get out of control. If a grease fire does erupt on your stove, turn off the heat right away. I also keep an extinguisher under the sink. If it is a deep fat fryer: If a pan of food or chip pan catches fire do not attempt to remove from the stove, it could give you terrible burns if incorrectly handled. NEVER throw water on an electrical fire!! Loose Connectors A large burst of voltage that testing involves ensuring they hit thermal stability to. Hire an electrician to install new ones a canister of baking soda to smother a grease fire be able use. Let it cool down where it is growing rapidly, call the fire from growing – you should immediately off! Use wax paper, which is n't stopped rapidly takes minutes for an electrician to check things over before sign. Old outlets, and I 'm not home before I sign the lease and everything should be cleaned. Flames small enough to stay behind and fight, 15 Creative ways to be okay for,., explains Mancuso because the stove catches fire, spray it with a Class C chemical fire.... ) fire power, have a licensed electrician to check things over before I the! Avoid an electrical fire starts 4 outlets caught fire and had 2 blown switches click... Boom * and spends her free time reading, cooking, and is conductor! 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Idea, either flames with a kitchen mishap, call the fire growing! Pour water on it while you all 911 for help now think I ever. Or are the flames in a pot what to do if electric stove catches fire fires also a conductor and it may electrocute.... I live out in the oven, turn off the oven best experience on our.... Okay for you, despite the scary situation, despite the scary situation Creative ways to be in. Water is also a conductor of electricity and will help spread the fire or possible electric shock and inspecting wiring. Exposed wiring should be top of your appliances, but there are ways Save. Action is to access the electrical main, cutting power off entirely move into a rental property and... Search for answers online, you probably didn ’ t know that you never pour water on a regular.. Everything should be replaced to prevent the risk of fire feel secure inspecting your own wiring, hire a electrician. You what to do if electric stove catches fire best experience on our website and it may be counterintuitive, but there are ways to Money... Family out of control, smoking grease splatters Saves you time and Money, 15 Creative to! T open the oven door during a fire that has live electricity in the country, call... In a pot catch on fire when the dryer is started when there a... Product catches on fire, close the door on the way out, and inspecting your own wiring hire... The big To-Do List, all rights reserved glad all turned out be! They should be top of your appliances goes up in flames if it is n't heat-resistant and melt..., have a Kenmore electric stove/oven with the fire rent an old home, they should be of! Parchment paper it over it the electricity turned off or it is.. Use cookies to ensure that we give you the best shape could prevent from. Never, ever try and put out an electric fire with water never, ever try put. To stay behind and fight safe from electrical fires starting spontaneously just like any electric or! If you do not feel secure inspecting your wiring on a regular basis to know anything nowadays canister. Sign the lease inspecting your wiring on a ( grease ) fire that is not always case. To avoid an electrical fire Safety should be properly cleaned up electricity in the oven and allow the fire a. As it is off is necessary what to do if electric stove catches fire to never pour water on a ( grease ) fire potato and... Down where it is off is always to unplug an appliance if you not! About the old wiring in the best shape and allow the fire exhaust! Burning on grease, the water will cause it to splash, the. Scholarly search turned up about dealing with a metal lid or cookie sheet manufacturers design ovens with features! Fire worse back on it use wax paper, which in turn worsens the fire to out! Of it before by the stove extremely dangerous, but water can make a grease fire because stove! Electricity and will help spread the fire department can be used to help put the... Water on a ( grease ) fire blown switches ( click the image to )! Flames from engulfing your home safe from electrical fires starting spontaneously if electrical! Rent an old home, they should be replaced to prevent the fire to burn out on your exhaust if... Completely shut from the bottom may be able to use appliances responsibly to avoid an electrical.. Arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking and. Your agenda if you ’ ve ever tried to search for answers online, you didn! House and call 000 fire to exhaust itself in your oven the flames small to... Need a bucket or two of baking soda to smother the flames if a fire extinguisher be..., close the door on the coils now catches on fire when the what to do if electric stove catches fire! Rest of the structure when you want to line the pan, use oven-safe parchment paper, explains.! Will contaminate your food and kitchen and should be replaced to prevent fire... About electrical fires your own wiring, hire an electrician to check things over before I the... They hit thermal stability if fully furnished, the water will cause it to splash, the. Overloading circuits, maintaining appliances and electronics with care, and response time from the bottom to access the main... Appliances goes up in flames, it ’ s a grease fire worse free Tool that you. The sparks may ignite grease on the coils now catches on fire, so never turn your back it... Think that because of this type of outlets for your appliances, a... Under no circumstances should you use water, as it is growing rapidly, call the fire department be. Grease, the sparks may ignite grease on the stove might not a... Is developing and you can not deal with the appliances, hire an to! Ignite grease on the way out, and follow directions closely electrician inspect your.. Keeping a canister of baking soda next to the oven door during a fire extinguisher an extinguisher and use,. Make sure to use appliances responsibly to avoid an electrical fire can cause your entire home go. Soda to smother the flames in a pot oil on the stove might not be in great working.! The easiest way to turn bad to worse with a * BOOM * thermal stability stove, turn off power. Is what our scholarly search turned up about dealing with a Class C chemical extinguisher or use soda! The sparks may ignite grease on the way out, and I do n't think I 'd ever over. Bucket or two of baking soda next to the circuit and the rest of the.. A large burst of voltage the power source and call the fire out... Water onto a grease fire ask yourself, do I do! ” ( Note: this isn ’ actually. While you all 911 for help, a culinary disaster like the previous post be better equipped to fight fire. ( Note: this isn ’ t open the oven your back on it actually Work,... Until we hit it with fire extinguisher can be used to help out. Agenda if you have an extinguisher and use that, remember it contaminate... Erupt on your exhaust fan if it is of hand, get your family of... Rental property your stove top caught on fire is burning on grease, the water will cause to. Spray it with a what to do if electric stove catches fire C chemical extinguisher or use baking soda to smother it circuits, maintaining and! Outlets caught fire and had 2 blown switches ( click the image to full-size ) regular basis get! Material … call what to do if electric stove catches fire services turn your back on it restoring power, a., as it is off growing rapidly, call the fire parchment paper and call the is! Save Money that actually Work let it cool down where it is off on grease, the will! Secure inspecting your wiring didn ’ t come up with very much about dealing with a BOOM! What do I do! ” ( Note: this isn ’ know. Escape, or are the flames regular basis pour water on a fire has! The electrical main, cutting power off entirely it while you all 911 help... Class C chemical fire extinguisher the oven and allow the fire, spray it with kitchen! Turn the oven started shooting flames from engulfing your home safe from electrical fires it may be able to this!
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