Were you taught to keep a box of baking soda on the counter while cooking on the stove, just in case the pan catches fire?
Newfangled home fire safety devices like fire blankets and rangehood fire suppressors are putting a modern twist on this old school pro tip. These cooking safety tools are easy to use and widely available on an “over the counter” basis for consumers to purchase.
Best of all, the professional firefighters on duty right here, in the same neighborhoods and multiplexes where you live, highly recommend these particular fire prevention gadgets because the experts have witnessed how effectively fire blankets and rangehood fire suppressors work to save property, and ultimately lives.
Fire blankets and rangehood fire suppressors work in your kitchen on the same basic principle as your grandparents’ old box of baking soda, a pan lid, or your standard fire extinguisher. The idea is to suffocate flames by safely cutting off the supply of oxygen, without a need for water. Remember, never use water on a grease or oil fire, as it will cause dangerous flare-ups and make emergencies even worse.
Just like smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, the West Chester Fire Department encourages residents to consider putting these innovative fire prevention tools to work in your own homes.
Fire blanket
If you live in West Chester and receive the COMMUNITY REPORT magazine, mailed twice per year to every home, you may have already heard about fire blankets. Fire blankets work by smothering flames in a fireproof fabric – just keep a fire blanket nearby and toss it on top of a fire in case of an emergency. In the Fall/Winter 2024 issue, the West Chester Fire Department brought you the story of Maria, a West Chester resident who was able to quickly and successfully put out a fire in her kitchen last July thanks to one of these fire blankets. Look for fire blankets on the shelf at your local hardware store or big box retailer, in the same fire safety aisle with items like two story escape ladders and aerosol fire sprays.
Rangehood fire suppressor
Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires nationwide. And as recently as this past January, firefighter/paramedics in West Chester Township, Ohio have experienced firsthand the power of rangehood fire suppressors in the fight against unattended cooking. These devices are designed to work automatically to put out a fire on the stovetop when no one is around. Rangehood fire suppressors are hockey puck shaped canisters that mount under the vent range hood or to the bottom of a microwave, a few feet above a gas or electric stovetop cooking surface. If flames reach up high enough to activate the device, the canister releases a powder-like fire suppressant to snuff out cooking fires. A couple brands make these fires safety products, which are available to order online through most major e-commerce companies.
Do you live in West Chester, Ohio and have a home fire prevention success story you’d like to share? Message the West Chester Fire Department online!
Connect with West Chester Fire Department at www.WestChesterOH.org/Fire.