A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall Sparks Of Fire: A Close Call

Ok, so I almost set my house on fire last night and nearly got myself in a world of trouble to boot.

For what happened to make sense, you need to know that because of my wheelchair it is very hard for me to get hot items out of the oven. If I open the oven door all the way flat, I can not reach the rack leaning over the open door. So, when I want to get something out, I open the door only part of the way and basically lay it on my lap. Then I must reach over the hot oven door and get what I need to get, rolling back away from the door and simultaneoulsy closing it with my knee so I can put the hot item on the stove top. Then I sigh with relief!

Well, to accomplish reaching over the hot door like that I use a bath towel. I hold one end of it folded to act as a pot holder and allow the length of it to drape over the hot surface of the door so I do not burn my arms when I am reaching so far. It usally works out pretty well though it is awkward.

So last night I needed to take out a tray of bacon. I was a little concerned becaue there seemed to be an excess amount of grease in the pan and it seemed high up the sides. So I folded my towel and grasped the pan with both hands, trying to be careful not to let the towel fall into all that hot grease and as I pulled the pan out, I realized the towel was on fire in my right hand!



So I was desperate! The pan was really too heavy to hold with just my left hand as it is very long & I didn't have a great grip on it.... I'm right handed. I was terrified of spilling that hot grease into my lap! The towel was flaming!

The smoke alarm went off & the phone started ringing! Maxi yelled something about the fire & then the phone. I told him to forget the phone but to open the front door & grab another towel to flap under the smoke alarm.

Somehow, I got the pan on top of the stove, the oven door shut and threw the flaming towel in the sink & turned the cold water on it.

I picked up the phone (what was I thinking?) and it was Maxi's dad asking me what Maxi was doing? I said he is flapping a towel under the smoke alarm because I just set a towel on fire taking something out of the oven. Edward said "Oh, alright." By then the alarm had shut off & I handed Maxi the phone while I sat here stunned.

I think in my original concern about the hot grease, I folded the top edge of the towel too loosely and it must have come in contact with the element below. It was shocking how fast that terry went up in flames!

The good thing was that I wasn't hurt. If I had spilled that grease or dropped that towel on myself, it would've been a disaster.

We were both shaken up by it all.

But the weird thing is the crazy thoughts that can go through your mind at such a moment. When I was throwing the flaming towel into the sink, I worried about melting Maxi's favorite cereal bowl which was also in the sink...


Merme

Fires cause most of us to panic, Merme. But you did well, in the end. With out a full blown panic or heart attack. And you learned from it all I am sure.
How was the bacon?

Things such as what you described can happen fast---thank goodness you thought and acted quickly--and I have to ask too--How was the bacon??......

First ,,,,,,,,, I'm glad you didn't get burnt,,

second,,,, You were quick thinking

3rd, You need a couple of those long arm'ed oven mits

fire does cause anyone to panic as Tina said, Seems it's just instinct to do what is right,, even tho our minds may be racing!
'Sure am glad you and Maxi is alright!

I often put a sweat shirt on first to help protect my arms but yesterday I had a short sleeved blouse on, so my arms were bare. Stupid.

You are right, Diane ~ I need some of those long mitts. I keep telling Maxi I will get him some but now I really will.

The bacon was good. I used it in another recipe which I will post.

Oh and Maxi's favorite bowl didn't melt.


Merme

MermeCindyLous Fay,
What will we do with you, sure glad it turned out okay- and glad you and the bowl are fine- I once did a crazy thing an almost set my house on fire too-or at least my oven.. I had made a meatloaf which over flowed the grease onto bottom of oven and the next day without wiping out excess grease started the cleaning cycle- it caught fire... you can't turn off the oven when in cleaning cycle so I had to pull it out from wall and unplug it- oven was fine but it scared me to death--- set myself on fire in Tucson once too reaching over my stove with a long sleeved Terry Robe on... good thing sink was next to stove- I no longer wear long sleeves to cook.... and yes get some long potholder gloves.... and a deeper pan to cook bacon in.... sure glad Maxi was there to help too... you probably stayed calmer for him....
Nana

everyone has said it all, so i'll just say i'm grateful it worked out well

I think that says it all.

Merme......I'm so glad that you kept things under control and didn't get hurt and that you got the fire out. Fire IS scary. My sisters stove went up in huge flames years ago because she'd left a lighter on top of it....talk about scary. I ran outside leaving my sister to deal with it. I don't deal well with that kind of thing. Obviously.

Oh no Merme! Glad that you and Maxi and both well and everything turned out okay!!