The Roof

[jmfargo]

So yesterday was an adventure. Aside from my electric stove setting some boiled-over grease on fire (electric AND fire stove: best of both worlds!) not much happened, but since I've never actually set any major appliance on fire before it counts as an adventure in and of itself. Thankfully, as I said in my purposely vague (it's more fun that way) post from yesterday, the fire extinguisher works. Everyone, of course, is fine.

At first, I tried just placing a lid over the fire, thinking to smother it. After about half a minute I realized it wasn't working because the oxygen was coming from underneath the coils; there's a big open space there that opens up to the other burners. So much for that good idea. Still, no panicking allowed, I knew we had a fire extinguisher. Surprisingly I'd never had to use one before, so while the flames were licking my stove, looking for a way out and into the rest of the house, I had to calmly read and follow the instructions. It felt kind of surreal.

For those that don't know, fire extinguishers are very messy. Everything within 10 feet of where I blasted was covered in a fine white foam, and the air filled with CO2* so I asked my mother to take the dogs outside while I called the fire department's non-emergency number.

Why did I call the fire department, you ask? Good question. I don't know. I just remembered that, as a kid, the school taught that even if you put out a fire by yourself, you should call. Maybe it was just because we were kids; probably as a matter of fact. Still, I remembered what they told me when I was a kid, called the non-emergency number, and got told that unless there was an actual fire I didn't have to worry about it.

Hey, what can I say, I was trained well as a kid. Well enough that it lasted into adulthood.

So the house is fine, the dogs are fine, and everyone's okay. The stove needs a good cleaning.

*That 2 is supposed to be a subscript, small and at the bottom but I have no idea how to...wait..idea. I wonder if it worked.

Comments

[mishamish.livejournal.com]

Actually, I was under the impression that you were supposed to call the fire department every time you discharge a fire extinguisher as well.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I wasn't alone in thinking that.

When I called them they told me "Well, unless you want us to come to your house there's nothing we can do." I didn't particularly think they had to waste their time since I'm an adult and could tell that the fire was completely out.

[kmg-365.livejournal.com]

For a stove top incident like yours, yeah, you can tell it is completely out. However, a friend of ours had a fire in a wall oven, and the fire department opened the wall to make sure that the fire didn't get into the walls.

In that instance, better safe than sorry.

[argonel.livejournal.com]

I can tell you they would rather answer the non-emergency line to reassure you that it's a non-issue than answer the emegency line so they can keep your neighbors house from burning down.

[firesign10.livejournal.com]

Ditto.

[kmg-365.livejournal.com]

I've heard salt works well at smothering fires, too.

[argonel.livejournal.com]

I've never heard about using salt. I assume you have to use a lot of it and cover the flames. I can see how it would help keep the grease and flames from spreading though. I have used baking soda once though and it works amazingly well. Not only does it smother the fire, but it also melts and bubbles absorbing a bunch of heat and seling the fire away. It still causes a huge mess to clean up, but only over a few square feet, not everywhere within 10 feet of the extinguiser.

I do have a few advantages for fire knowledge though. Not only was my dad chief of the volunteer fire department while I was growing up, but my first job out of collge was at a heat treating shop with open fires all over the place. The annual safety training included a practical portion to supplement the boring videos. They had the fire department set up a 4'X4' metal tray with some gasoline in it, lit it, then each person had to take a fire extinguisher and put it out. It was a fun little exercise.

BTW CO2 extinguishers don't leave the foam around for cleanup, but if the insulation on the hose or nozzle is cracked they will give you a series of nasty static shocks.

[morlith.livejournal.com]

You can also use baking powder for grease fires. Smothers the flame and soaks everything up. =)

Just don't use water. WATER BAD.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I realize. :)

[wookiemonster.livejournal.com]

If it makes you feel any better...

When I was in high school, I was "babysitting" my sister and she decided to make some cupcakes. She over greased the tin, and ended up running to me telling me about the fire in the oven. One of the cupcakes had ignited, looking like a restaurant birthday cupcake, with flame but without the candle. Not knowing what else to do, I sprayed it with the fire extinguisher, which solved the problem, but left a mess. And a horrible smell.

[conscience.livejournal.com]

I would have freaked!
(And am now reminding myself I need a fire extinguisher)
Glad everything worked out okay...!

...and yup...the 2 worked! *teehee*

[(Anonymous)]

The roof, the roof, the roof isn't on fire. Good :)
Yes, the *subscript was funny (while reading your PS I think the idea dawned on me the same time it did you, hehe).

"Welcome to my house mom, look, a fire!"

-tt

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Maria says I was just trying to get a new stove. I told her I would have "forgotten" we had a fire extinguisher in that case. :)

[(Anonymous)]

So, I have a couple questions, one geeky and one cookish.

1) Given that audiophiles will argue that records, as an analog recording of music, is far superior to a CD or other digital recording. Given that a replicator creates a digital representation of what it replicates, which tastes better, replicator Earl Grey Tea, or organic?

2) Well, I was going to ask about alcohol in extracts, and if it effects the flavoring as opposed to using other methods to get the extracted flavor in, but I just went and read about it, so forget it :)

-tt

[kauricat.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness! I'm glad you didn't panic and got it under control. I would have probably freaked.