We have just been advised of a kitchen fire.
The chip pan exploded into fire with the lady of the house standing next to it.
She immediately turned off the heat and the exhaust fan and put the lid on the pan.
She screamed to the older child to get out of the house, grabbed the toddler, and rang 000 on her mobile while carrying the child from the house.
When she returned moments later, the whole kitchen was engulfed in black smoke and the pan was still alight, spitting flaming sparks over a wide area.
She carried (!!!) the burning pan outside the house, burning her hand in the process.
Five fire trucks arrived within minutes.
The crews checked the house, switched on the evap cooling to flush the smoke out, and installed pedestal fans from their trucks to force the smoke away from the house.
They waited a reasonable time to ensure there were no cavity fires.
CGU responded immediately, we have the insurance assessor attending the property tomorrow.
The rangehood fan and mesh filters melted from the heat, the overhead cupboards are damaged and the kitchen was covered in soot.
I went to Bunnings tonight and bought seven Fire Blankets and a packet of self adhesive kitchen hooks. I have now printed up a Notice to Tenants requesting they have a household meeting, make sure eveyone understands how to use the Blanket, and to install it in an accessible place where they don't have to reach across a burning pan to get it.
I will drive around tomorrow and deliver the Blankets personally.
I also remind them to regularly check the Smoke Detectors and to replace the batteries if necessary, to make sure everyone in the household understands what to do in the event of a fire, and to make sure the house doors are not deadlocked at night.
I have also suggested they each buy a household fire extinghisher from a hardware store and to keep it in the kitchen.
The lady has now washed the entire kitchen and the paint has started to peel away from the acid residue.
No one was (badly) hurt although the children were hysterical and the lady was deeply shocked.
Her stack of freshly washed clothing in the meals area suffered smoke damage and the soot has stained the floor tiles.
One frying pan has caused about $2,000 damage.
Is your insurance up to date?
Do your tenants have Fire Blankets or Fire Extinguishers?
Are the Smoke Detectors operational?
The Blankets cost $15 at Bunnings.
Interestingly, I bought a Fire Blanket about a month ago, and two days ago took it out of the Bunnings bag, hammered a small nail into the inside of the pantry door, and hung the Blanket in position. Within 24 hours I get the call about the fire.
What are you waiting for?
Kristine
The chip pan exploded into fire with the lady of the house standing next to it.
She immediately turned off the heat and the exhaust fan and put the lid on the pan.
She screamed to the older child to get out of the house, grabbed the toddler, and rang 000 on her mobile while carrying the child from the house.
When she returned moments later, the whole kitchen was engulfed in black smoke and the pan was still alight, spitting flaming sparks over a wide area.
She carried (!!!) the burning pan outside the house, burning her hand in the process.
Five fire trucks arrived within minutes.
The crews checked the house, switched on the evap cooling to flush the smoke out, and installed pedestal fans from their trucks to force the smoke away from the house.
They waited a reasonable time to ensure there were no cavity fires.
CGU responded immediately, we have the insurance assessor attending the property tomorrow.
The rangehood fan and mesh filters melted from the heat, the overhead cupboards are damaged and the kitchen was covered in soot.
I went to Bunnings tonight and bought seven Fire Blankets and a packet of self adhesive kitchen hooks. I have now printed up a Notice to Tenants requesting they have a household meeting, make sure eveyone understands how to use the Blanket, and to install it in an accessible place where they don't have to reach across a burning pan to get it.
I will drive around tomorrow and deliver the Blankets personally.
I also remind them to regularly check the Smoke Detectors and to replace the batteries if necessary, to make sure everyone in the household understands what to do in the event of a fire, and to make sure the house doors are not deadlocked at night.
I have also suggested they each buy a household fire extinghisher from a hardware store and to keep it in the kitchen.
The lady has now washed the entire kitchen and the paint has started to peel away from the acid residue.
No one was (badly) hurt although the children were hysterical and the lady was deeply shocked.
Her stack of freshly washed clothing in the meals area suffered smoke damage and the soot has stained the floor tiles.
One frying pan has caused about $2,000 damage.
Is your insurance up to date?
Do your tenants have Fire Blankets or Fire Extinguishers?
Are the Smoke Detectors operational?
The Blankets cost $15 at Bunnings.
Interestingly, I bought a Fire Blanket about a month ago, and two days ago took it out of the Bunnings bag, hammered a small nail into the inside of the pantry door, and hung the Blanket in position. Within 24 hours I get the call about the fire.
What are you waiting for?
Kristine
