It may be counterintuitive, but water can make a grease fire worse. Start by never overloading circuits, maintaining appliances and electronics with care, and inspecting your wiring on a regular basis. Some people say that pouring salt or baking soda over grease fires can put them out, but this works only on small-scale ones. UL tests just about every stove that hits the market. Before restoring power, have a licensed electrician inspect your wiring. If the fire looks out of hand, get your family out of the house and call emergency services. 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. The saucepan of oil on the stove catches fire? This photo is from a house in which 4 outlets caught fire and had 2 blown switches (click the image to full-size). Ahhh!!! Clearly what is necessary is to scream and flap your arms while exclaiming “What do I do! What do I do!” (Note: this isn’t actually what you should do.). Instead, reach for that Class C fire extinguisher, which can effectively put out fires that originate around wiring, outlets, appliances and circuit breakers. 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. Glad all turned out to be okay for you, despite the scary situation! Since manufacturers design ovens with fire-control features, you shouldn’t open the oven door during a fire. 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. Electric stoves can overheat and catch on fire, just like any electric appliance or device. The lint on the coils now catches on fire when the dryer is started! Fastest thing is to soak a dishtowel and drop it over it. By continuing to use this site, you consent to the use of cookies. A small electrical fire can cause your entire home to go up in flames if it isn't stopped rapidly. 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. Frayed or exposed wiring should be replaced to prevent the risk of fire. 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. No, no. Cover the flames with a metal lid or cookie sheet. 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. This is really dangerous and could lead to a worse fire or possible electric shock. The general recommendation is always to unplug an appliance if you are not using it. If an electrical fire starts, you should immediately turn off power to the circuit and the rest of the structure. The easiest way to do this is to access the electrical main, cutting power off entirely. This was not an old house. 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. Stove top caught on fire, electric, quick question? NEVER throw water over it. 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. A stovetop fire is a bit more dangerous, explains Mancuso. What does one do when a fire breaks out on your stove top? Electrical fire safety should be top of your agenda if you move into a rental property. 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. If one of your appliances goes up in flames, it’s important not to panic. 4. 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. Make sure to use appliances responsibly to avoid an electrical fire, and follow directions closely. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and If you cannot deal with the fire, close the door on the way out, and call 000. Then turn off the power at the electrical panel to prevent the fire from growing. Manufacturers design ovens with fire-control features, you probably didn ’ t open the,! It may electrocute you you all 911 for help bad idea, either every stove that hits the market the... Catches fire, a culinary disaster like the previous post burned until we hit it with extinguisher. With the appliances, but water can make a grease fire worse line the pan, use parchment. 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