Base housing kitchen fire makes fire safety hot topic Published May 2, 2007 By Airman 1st Class Greg Biondo 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- A kitchen fire occurred in base housing April 24. Though no one was injured, the fire caused minor damages to a stove top, an exhaust fan and to the kitchen's cabinets. The fire department determined that the fire was caused by the resident being distracted long enough for the fire to become an unattended grease fire. When the resident realized there was a fire, he proceeded to put it out with a fire extinguisher and then dialed 911. While the resident was effective in extinguishing the fire, the proper steps in this situation would be to dial 911, let everyone in the home know there is a fire, and evacuate the area. Residents should only fight a fire if, and only if, they are not placing themselves or others in harms way, said Michael Joseph, 4th Fighter Wing assistant fire chief. Unattended cooking is one of the leading causes of kitchen fires here. In 2006, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base had 15 fires in base housing. More than half of those were kitchen fires. Kitchen fires represent 34 percent of all fires in the United States, said Mr. Joseph. Fire safety is important because it can have a negative impact on the mission of the 4th Fighter Wing. Airmen can become distracted from the mission while attending to personal matters resulting from a fire, Mr. Joseph said. To help reduce the number of kitchen fires on base, Mr. Joseph offers a few tips: - Do not leave food cooking on the stove or in the oven when no one is present. - Turn off the stove and other appliances after use. - Heat cooking oil slowly over moderate heat. - Never pour water on a cooking fire. - If a grease fire starts, smother it by carefully sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. - Turn pot handles inward so they are not easily knocked over. According to Mr. Joseph, fire safety education and common sense are the primary tools used in fire prevention. To report a fire on base using a base telephone, dial 911. When using a personal cell phone dial 722-0911.