DOII Fiifi Oppong of Tema Regional Fire Command has urged Ghanaians to get a fire extinguisher in their kitchen since it is the most likely room in their homes for a fire to start.
He said kitchen fires are grease fires, and they cannot be put out with water since fire extinguishers can be a small but important part of the home fire safety plan.
Speaking on Plan B fm morning show dubbed ‘Nkosuo Nsem’, Mr Oppong stated that, the fire extinguishers can save lives and property by putting out a small fire or suppressing it until the fire department arrives. “If those conditions have been met, you should pick up the fire extinguisher and attack the fire” he said
Educating the public on where the extinguishers must be cited, he said, kitchen fire extinguisher should be within 30 feet of the stove so it can be accessed quickly in an emergency. But it shouldn’t be installed in the immediate vicinity of the stove, where smoke and flames could block access.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) categorizes fires in commercial kitchen as Class K fires because of the high heating rates of vegetables oils and other cooking products commonly used there. As a result, all restaurant kitchens are required by law to have at least one Class K fire extinguisher ready.
For his part, Assistant Station Officer, Mr. Charles Andrews Esshun who was also on the morning show, noted that water mist fire extinguishers are suitable for use on class A, B, C, F and Electrical risks which are all found in a modern kitchen.
He therefore advised Ghanaians not to use an expired fire extinguisher. However, with proper care and maintenance, fire extinguisher should be able to last between 10 to 12 years. “In the event that your fire extinguisher is no longer safe to use, we can also provide you with a new one” he remarked.
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