These would be funny if they weren’t so darn scary! The Huffington Post brings us “Up In Smoke” – some very bad kitchen cooking fire experiences. Check it out here.
Never Leave Your House While Cooking
Seems like a no brainer, huh? An unattended cooking fire started about 9:30 pm in the first-floor kitchen of a multi-family, two-story dwelling caused $10,000 in damages in Evanston, OH, Monday. T. No one was home at the time, so it appears that the residents must have started cooking and then left the house. When smoke rose to the second floor, those residents evacuated. No one was injured.
Gilbert Firefighter: How to Prevent Kitchen Fires
Gilbert Arizona firefighter Mike Conner is deputy chief of Gilbert Fire & Rescue Department, Community Services Division. Here is his advice which originally appeared in the Arizona Republic website.
Question: What should I do if I have a cooking fire?
Answer: Cooking fires are the number one cause of house fires and injuries. The main contributor is unattended cooking, which is the cause of nearly 90 percent of these fires.
Fires are more likely to start in the kitchen than in any other room in your home. The National Fire Protection Association reported that in 2011 cooking was involved in an estimated 156,300 structure fires and caused 470 deaths, 5,390 injuries and more than $1 billion in property damage.
The statistic that should be an eye-opener is that more than half of reported non-fatal cooking-fire injuries occurred when people tried to fight the fires themselves. Most of these are from incorrect techniques like using water to fight a grease fire.
Never leave food that is cooking unattended — whether frying, grilling or using the broiler. If you must leave, turn off the appliance. When you’re baking, check it regularly and never leave your home.
Keep your work area clear of anything that can catch on fire: oven mitts, towels, food packaging. Loose clothing can be a danger, wear short and close-fitting sleeves when cooking. Also be aware of loose-fitting aprons that can dangle onto burners.
When using cooking oil, if it starts to boil, remove it from the heat source and let it cool before adding food. If oil catches on fire, wear an oven mitt and slide a lid over the pan or use a baking sheet to cover it. Having a lid out on the counter, even if you’re not using it, is a good idea in case of a fire. A fire extinguisher kept in the kitchen is also a great idea.
If you can’t cover a grease fire or can’t access the fire extinguisher, call 911.
Photo Montage of Cooking Disasters
Not everyone cooks so well that they can be on Top Chef or Food Network Stars. But these funny yet pathetic cooking disasters illustrate how dangerous cooking can be. Seriously, you can actually catch spaghetti on fire! Checkout these disastrous cooking FAILS!
Guardian SSI Exhibits at Georgia Fire Safety Symposium
Guardian Safety Solutions International, Inc. (GSSI), the leader in the development and manufacturing of residential range top fire protection systems, will exhibit at the Georgia Fire Safety Symposium, July 28 – 30, at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, Forsyth, GA.
“We are excited to demonstrate our ‘Guardian Solution’ range top suppression system that protects against a range top fire before it causes property damage or injuries,” said Paul Rouse, Guardian SSI’s administrative officer. “The purpose of this symposium is to instill an awareness of individual responsibility for safety and prevention at home, school, work and in all areas of life. The objective is to decrease Georgia’s alarming fire death rate and to take fire prevention education to cities and counties that do not have it and to enhance those that do.”
GSSI manufactures the Guardian III Model G300B, UL and ULC listed with a fuel shut-off. The Guardian is designed to detect and extinguish cooking fires and prevent re-ignition in private homes, apartments, senior housing, college campuses, hospitals and other facilities. See how the Guardian works here.
Once it detects heat at a pre-determined temperature, the Guardian sends a signal to release an extinguishing agent that suppresses the fire. Guardian will also shut off the gas or electric supply to the stove in order to prevent reigniting. The design of the system offers:
- automatic operation
- continuous 24-hour protection
- concealed installation
- easy clean-up
- proven reliability
For more information, contact GSSI at 800-786-2178 or visit www.guardianssi.com. “Like” Guardian on Facebook at Fire Prevention News www.facebook.com/GuardianSSI and follow on Twitter @GuardianSSI.
About GSSI
Protecting families worldwide since 1985, Guardian Safety Solutions International Inc. is the recognized leader in the development and manufacturing of residential range top fire protection systems. GSSI’s mission is to develop and distribute quality safety products that provide customers with peace of mind, while protecting lives and property. See ICC-ES Listing No
PMG-1166 at www.icc-es.org\pmg.
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Media Contact:
Susan Tellem, APR, RN, BSN
Tellem Grody PR, Inc.
310.313.3444 x1
Don’t “Drink and Fry” This 4th of July
Guardian Safety Solutions International, Inc. (GSSI), the nation’s largest provider of residential range top fire suppression systems, asks cooks to not “drink and fry” this 4th of July. More fires are reported on the 4th of July than any other day of the year according to FEMA.
“While many fires are started by fireworks, cooking is the third most common cause of fires on July 4th,” said Paul Rouse, GSSI’s administrative officer. “It’s a day when people get together for parties, and drinking alcohol is part of the festivities. It’s easy to get distracted when you have too much to drink, so fires start when something is cooking on the stove, and you leave the room to join guests. Unfortunately, it happens often resulting in injuries and death.”
10 tips for cooking fire safety on July 4th are:
- Never leave a room while cooking.
- If you must leave the room while cooking, turn off the stove.
- Keep pot handles turned to the back of the stove so children cannot grab them.
- Wear short sleeves or tight sleeves while cooking so nothing dangles near a flame.
- Keep paper, towels, pot holders, wooden utensils and curtains away from the cooking area.
- Have one or more fire extinguishers handy and know how to use them.
- Keep stove tops clean; remove built up grease and spilled food.
- Never throw water on a grease fire – smother it with a pan lid instead.
- Keep children and pets out of the “kid-free” zone three feet from the stove.
10. Have a fire escape plan, and review and rehearse it often.
“The time to protect yourself against a range top fire is before it strikes. By simply installing the Guardian, you can rest at ease and party safely.” With the system, a fire can be extinguished in as little as seven seconds (video).
The Guardian is designed to detect and extinguish cooking fires and at the same timeprevents re-ignition. Once it detects heat at a pre-determined temperature, a signal is sent to release the extinguishing agent to suppress the fire and to shut off the gas or electric supply to the stove in order to prevent reigniting. “Whether it is a single home or an apartment at risk, putting the fire out quickly is imperative to minimize damage and injury,” Rouse said.
For more information, contact GSSI at 800-786-2178 or visit www.guardianssi.com. Visit on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GuardianSSI and on Twitter @GuardianSSI.
About GSSI
Protecting families worldwide since 1985, Guardian Safety Solutions International Inc. is the recognized leader in the development and manufacturing of residential range top fire protection systems. GSSI’s mission is to develop and distribute quality safety products that provide customers with peace of mind, while protecting lives and property. GSSI manufactures the Guardian III Model G300B, UL and ULC listed with a fuel shut-off.
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Media Contact: Susan Tellem, APR, RN, BSN
susan@tellemgrodypr.com
310 313-3444 x1
Guardian SSI to Exhibit at FFEDA
Dallas based Guardian Safety Solutions International Inc. (GSSI), the leader in the development and 
manufacturing of residential range top fire protection systems, will exhibit at the Florida Fire Equipment Distributors Association (FFEDA) Annual Conference and Trade Show at Orlando world Center Marriott, June 21 – 23. FFEDA is a non-profit trade association comprising fire equipment companies and manufacturers from throughout the United States.
“We are excited to demonstrate our ‘Guardian Solution,’ or range top suppression system that puts out kitchen fires within seconds,” said Paul Rouse, Guardian SSI’s administrative officer. “Homeowners and facilities such as nursing homes, senior residences, college dorms, and hotels or motels can rest at ease knowing that potential cooking fires stand no chance in a kitchen protected by Guardian.” He added that kitchens can be retrofitted as well.
GSSI manufactures the Guardian III Model G300B, UL and ULC listed with a fuel shut-off. The Guardian is designed to detect and extinguish cooking fires and prevents re-ignition. Once it detects heat at a pre-determined temperature, a signal is sent to release an extinguishing agent that suppresses the fire. Guardian will also shut off the gas or electric supply to the stove in order to prevent reigniting. The design of the system offers:
- automatic operation
- continuous 24-hour protection
- concealed installation
- easy clean-up
- proven reliability
For more information, contact GSSI at 800-786-2178 or visit www.guardianssi.com. “Like” Guardian on Facebook and follow on Twitter @GuardianSSI.
About GSSI
Protecting families worldwide since 1985, Guardian Safety Solutions International Inc. is the recognized leader in the development and manufacturing of residential range top fire protection systems. GSSI’s mission is to develop and distribute quality safety products that provide customers with peace of mind, while protecting lives and property. See ICC-ES Listing No PMG-1166 at www.icc-es.org\pmg.
Media Contact:
Susan Tellem
Tellem Grody PR
310.313.3444 x1
Arlington Apartment Fire in Dallas This Weekend Preventable
The Chula Vista Apartments off East Park Row Drive kitchen fire in Dallas, our hometown, at around 5:30 p.m. Saturday was preventable. Sadly, about 45 house fires are reported every hour in the U.S., and 60 percent of apartment fires are started by cooking. Paul Rouse, Administrative Officer/Sales & Operations Director for Guardian Safety Solutions International, Inc. is a 34-year veteran of the fire industry. He says more than 12 million unintentional home cooking fires go unreported causing 640,000 injuries annually.
Rouse says Texas, as well as other states, should require mandatory range top suppression equipment in new buildings or remodels just like sprinklers and earthquake shut-off valves are. GSSI manufactures the Guardian III Model G300B, UL and ULC listed with a fuel shut-off.
“The Guardian is designed to detect and extinguish cooking fires and prevent re-ignition in private homes, apartments, senior housing, college campuses, hospitals and other facilities. Even older kitchens can be retrofitted as well,” Rouse said. (See how the Guardian works here).
Ret. Battalion Chief Educates Residents About Fires
Battalion Chief (Ret.) Robert Avsec served with the men and women of the Chesterfield County (VA) Fire and EMS Department for 26 years. He’s now using his acquired knowledge, skills, and experiences as a freelance writer for FireRescue1.com. He has some excellent ideas on educating the public about fires and how to prevent them. He emphasized that, “Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries [And has been for many years]. Unattended cooking is the leading factor contributing to these fires. Frying is the leading type of activity associated with cooking fires. More than half of all cooking fire injuries occurred when people tried to fight the fire themselves.”
If you’d like to learn more, please read the post here.
Knoxville Fire Dept. shares recipe for spicy avocado fries
Here’s some good news for a change. The Knoxville TN Fire Department shared one of their best recipes with us via WBIR-TV. I bet the cooks don’t leave the kitchen unattended while they are making their famous avocado fries. Captain D.J. Corcoran with the Knoxville Fire Department shares his recipe for Spicy Avocado Fries.
Ingredients
1 cup Panko bread crumbs
2 Tbs. Ground Flax
1 Tsp. Chili Powder
1 Egg
2 Avocados
Olive Oil
Salt
Directions:
* Combine breadcrumbs, chili powder, and ground flax, place in bowl.
* In separate bowl whisk one egg.
* Dip peeled avocado slices in egg, then in breadcrumb mixture.
* Place on cooking sheet in preheated 400 degree oven for 15 minutes until crisp.
Captain Corcoran recommends serving with your favorite hot sauce. Yum! The Knoxville Fire Department provides free smoke detectors, installed by members of the department, inside the city of Knoxville. For information call the city’s 3-1-1 number.
Photo WBIR
