Firefighter Kevin Vetsch demonstrates what you should never do when you have a grease fire on the stove – never throw water on it or else it will do this. (Photo by Lyonel Doherty)
Oliver residents came away a lot smarter about fire safety today thanks to an open house hosted by the local fire department.
Fire Chief Bob Graham and training officer Scott Schaffrick led the public through various scenarios including a rescue from a rooftop, grease fire on a stove, proper fire extinguisher use and a dramatic living room fire.
Residents learned never to throw water on a grease fire on the stove or else it will flare up on you. Turn the stove off and keep the lid on the pot is the advice from firefighters. And phone the fire department.
People learned how to properly use a fire extinguisher by remembering the letters PASS – pull the pin, aim the hose, squeeze the handle and sweep the fire.
Finally, residents were treated to a dramatic fire comparing two living room scenarios – one with a sprinkler and one without. The one without the sprinkler system was fully engulfed in flames in under five minutes, at which point it reached “flashover” (everything igniting at once).
This living room without a sprinkler system became fully engulfed in flames in just under five minutes. (Photo by Lyonel Doherty)
A good crowd turned out for today’s open house hosted by the Oliver Fire Department. (Photo by Lyonel Doherty)
