Monday, May 22, 2006

Kitchen Fires

Perhaps I need to invest in a fire extinguisher. I've started kitchen fires at least twice in my life. I might have blocked the rest. Don't worry, I wasn't hurt in either fire. The first one happened when Peanut was between 4 and 30 months old. That's when we lived on Elm St. I don't remember what I was cooking but I remember using a dish towel to get it out of the oven, whatever it was. The towel dropped to the bottom of the stove and the next thing I knew it was engulfed in flames. Ok, maybe engulfed is a bit too much, only one corner was on fire. I don't know how it started either! I grabbed the towel by the other end and ran it outside where I jumped up and down on it several times! Poor towel, I threw it away. Supper was still good.

The next kitchen fire incident happened, well, tonight. I made tacos. One of my Fav-Vor-Ite meals! Peanut and I were talking about her school day. I wanted to warm up my tortillia without getting out another pan the meat pan still had, well you guessed it, meat in it. So being the brilliant person I am I turned on the gas burner and set the tortillia right down. I fully intended to stand there flipping it back and forth a few times until it was done, but somehow got distracted. A few moments pass and I started to smell something odd. I looked at the stove and there was my tortillia getting very brown and black... and orange... and yellow.... oh wait, that's not a tortillia anymore... that's a fire. Oops. I grabbed the tortillia and threw it in the sink and turned on the water.

So, what do you think. Should I invest in a fire extinguisher? Don't those things have to be serviced ever so often?

10 comments:

Cindy said...

Leslee,
Sounds like a fine idea to invest in a fire extinguisher. I don't have one but I do cook by smoke alarm so it might not be a bad idea.

BTW, I almost called you yesterday if I had had your # saved. It sounded like you needed to let off some steam. Maybe we can do lunch later on this week?

Sally said...

Fire extguisher sonds good... mmm I love tacos... not burnt ones though!!! You made me laugh when I needed to laugh... thanks...

Leslee said...

Cindy, have you ever heard of a phone book? Yes, we need to do lunch this week!

Sally, I'm glad I could help you laugh today!

Cindy said...

Yeah, except I was driving down the road when I thought of it. I thought about calling my daughter to look it up for me but figured that was a lot of hassle. I'd just talk to you today.

See ya later!

Unknown said...

Yes, you need a fire extinguisher. We have one. It gives a discount on our homeowners. One of my parishioners burned her kitchen one day, it was a simple thing, she got busy doing things and forgot she had a pan on the stove, until it was too late. So, please get an extinguisher. And do be careful.

hip2b said...

I have one...and its been used. When it "expires" you can take it to the local fire house. They'll check it over and dispose of it, if needed.

~Jennifer said...

Yup, I was going to mention that you may get a discount on your homeowner's insurance if you have one, but I see revabi covered that. Even so, it's a good idea. Reminds me, I confiscated our kitchen extinguisher and put it in my studio (a.k.a. corner of the garage where I melt glass.) I have to get a new one for the kitchen now.

Jenn said...

Fire extinguisher is always a good thing!! The Kidde brand you buy in Home Depot or Walmart, Costco..have a charge indicator on them and can be recharged when needed around every 5 years or so, in my experience. They are usually very inexpensive for a home/kitchen/garage (about $20 or less)

Pilot Mom said...

Do you have a microwave? I just put my tortillias in the microwave...much less chance of a fire! :)

Leslee said...

Claire, that's what I did after I burned the first one. Turned out better then I thought it would!