Photo By 94th Airlift Wing | The aftermath of a grease kitchen fire in the home of U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt....... read more read more
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Kitchen fires are the leading cause of fires in the home and the Kaiserslautern Military Community is no exception.
Four KMC home fires originated in the kitchen since June 2020.
“People are cooking at home more,” said John Thompson, 86th Civil Engineer Squadron fire chief. “Some people may get complacent or distracted, walk away from their kitchen and then fire breaks out.”
One such kitchen fire started July 4 in the home of Staff Sgt. Anthony Lievanos, 435th Construction and Training Squadron instructor, when he stepped away to tend to his young daughter.
“I had put about half a pot full of oil on the stove for some fries,” said Lievanos. “A few minutes went by and I stepped away from the kitchen when I noticed my daughter had woken up from her nap. After I put her back down to nap I turned and saw smoke coming from the kitchen, the pot had caught on fire.”
In the following few minutes Lievanos removed the burning pot from the house, returned inside to the kitchen to put out the fire caused by the grease and got his family out of the house.
While removing the burning pot from the house, oil splashed onto Lievanos’ arm and leg causing burn damage that required skin grafts. Not only was there physical damage to Lievanos, but damage in the home too since the stove needed to be replaced
“In an ideal scenario there are a few things one could do to help prevent or react to a situation like this,” said Thompson. “Having a working smoke detector, a fire extinguisher readily available in the kitchen and covering the pot or a pan with an appropriately sized lid can help remove the flame’s oxygen source, effectively putting the fire out.”
Thompson also suggested checking smoke detectors monthly, and replacing the batteries in them twice a year when the clocks change. Additionally, obtaining renter’s insurance can allow for occupants to get out of the house to call for help without as much of a worry about material possessions.
Practicing fire safety can become the difference between getting hurt, losing items or your home, or coming out of the situation unscathed.
Here are tips for dealing with a grease fire:
Do:
Have a working smoke detector, work with the housing self-help store or your landlord for help
Cover the pot or pan with an appropriate lid
Use a fire extinguisher
Exit the home and call emergency services
Don’t:
Try to remove the burning element from the kitchen or home
Put water on a grease fire, this causes a reaction and fuels the fire
Use a towel or other flammable object to smother the flame, this also fuels the fire
| Date Taken: | 09.08.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 09.08.2020 09:18 |
| Story ID: | 377565 |
| Location: | RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, RHEINLAND-PFALZ, DE |
| Web Views: | 56 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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