Fire safety at home is crucial, fire safety in the kitchen, even more so. The kitchen is one place in the home where a multitude of fires can start. Planning in case of a kitchen fire emergency is a vital part of any family discussion. It is not something that a lot of parents initially think to talk to their children about, however. Many adults are not even sure where to start in the case of an electrical or grease fire in the kitchen. Keep these basic ideas in mind when forming a plan of action in case of fire.

The first step when putting out any fire is to call 911. If the fire is put out, the truck can always turn around. They cannot, however, suddenly appear at the house without warning.

One of the most common sources of fire in a kitchen is from appliances. Ovens and microwaves can be sources of flame, either by themselves or from the food inside. In both cases, fires that originate inside them can be easily snuffed out. Turn them off and keep the doors to the appliances sealed. Eventually, the fires will lose oxygen needed to keep going if the doors stay shut.

Grease fires are another fire found in the kitchen. Remember that cutting off oxygen is the best means of stopping many fires. Use an oven mitt to place a lid on top of the pan on fire. Take it off of the stove and turn off the burner, as well. If there is no lid then baking soda or salt will work. Make sure to use a lot to fully suppress the flame. Do not use water and do not try to smother it with a cloth of any sort. Both will just spread the fire further.

In all cases, a chemical fire extinguisher will do the job. The only downside is the kitchen will have a layer of chemicals afterwards. It is usually smart to have one around just in case. Better to have to clean up after an extinguisher, than replace an entire kitchen after a blaze.