by David Krough

KTVB.COM

Posted on December 1, 2011 at 10:36 AM

PORTLAND - Portland fire crews said a rare combination of factors led
to the explosion in a tofu cooking accident in Northwest Portland last
weekend.

Upon arrival Sunday evening, an injured woman told fire crews she was
starting to cook tofu in a pan when an explosion blew out the windows
of her apartment on NW 5th.

She was treated for minor injuries.

Investigators said a pan of oil caught fire and the person trying to
put it out placed it in a nearby sink where it got wet and released a
large amount of steam. Then, the windows in the woman's studio
apartment partially blew out and the overhead sprinkler activated.

Damage was estimated at $15,000.

On Dec 2, 10:16*am, Janet Bostwick > wrote:
> by David Krough
>
> KTVB.COM
>
> Posted on December 1, 2011 at 10:36 AM
>
> PORTLAND - Portland fire crews said a rare combination of factors led
> to the explosion in a tofu cooking accident in Northwest Portland last
> weekend.
>
> Upon arrival Sunday evening, an injured woman told fire crews she was
> starting to cook tofu in a pan when an explosion blew out the windows
> of her apartment on NW 5th.
>
> She was treated for minor injuries.
>
> Investigators said a pan of oil caught fire and the person trying to
> put it out placed it in a nearby sink where it got wet and released a
> large amount of steam. Then, the windows in the woman's studio
> apartment partially blew out and the overhead sprinkler activated.
>
> Damage was estimated at $15,000.

Can't blame it on the tofu.

On Dec 2, 1:16*pm, Janet Bostwick > wrote:
> by David Krough
>
> KTVB.COM
>
> Posted on December 1, 2011 at 10:36 AM
>
> PORTLAND - Portland fire crews said a rare combination of factors led
> to the explosion in a tofu cooking accident in Northwest Portland last
> weekend.
>
> Upon arrival Sunday evening, an injured woman told fire crews she was
> starting to cook tofu in a pan when an explosion blew out the windows
> of her apartment on NW 5th.
>
> She was treated for minor injuries.
>
> Investigators said a pan of oil caught fire and the person trying to
> put it out placed it in a nearby sink where it got wet and released a
> large amount of steam. Then, the windows in the woman's studio
> apartment partially blew out and the overhead sprinkler activated.
>
> Damage was estimated at $15,000.

Blame not the tofu. She just didn't know how to handle a pan fire,
nor prevent it in the first place.

On Fri, 2 Dec 2011 10:22:34 -0800 (PST), Chemo the Clown
> wrote:

>On Dec 2, 10:16*am, Janet Bostwick > wrote:
>> by David Krough
>>
>> KTVB.COM
>>
>> Posted on December 1, 2011 at 10:36 AM
>>
>> PORTLAND - Portland fire crews said a rare combination of factors led
>> to the explosion in a tofu cooking accident in Northwest Portland last
>> weekend.
>>
>> Upon arrival Sunday evening, an injured woman told fire crews she was
>> starting to cook tofu in a pan when an explosion blew out the windows
>> of her apartment on NW 5th.
>>
>> She was treated for minor injuries.
>>
>> Investigators said a pan of oil caught fire and the person trying to
>> put it out placed it in a nearby sink where it got wet and released a
>> large amount of steam. Then, the windows in the woman's studio
>> apartment partially blew out and the overhead sprinkler activated.
>>
>> Damage was estimated at $15,000.
>
>Can't blame it on the tofu.

The author of the article titled it. I just thought it sort of funny
that the kitchen gremlins had it in for her. Pan fire, steam, blown
out windows, fire sprinklers and then a newspaper article. If we
haven't all had a day as bad as that, I know we all have some
memorable kitchen days ;o
Janet US

Janet Bostwick > wrote:

>On Fri, 2 Dec 2011 10:22:34 -0800 (PST), Chemo the Clown

>>Can't blame it on the tofu.

>The author of the article titled it. I just thought it sort of funny
>that the kitchen gremlins had it in for her. Pan fire, steam, blown
>out windows, fire sprinklers and then a newspaper article. If we
>haven't all had a day as bad as that, I know we all have some
>memorable kitchen days ;o

Now if her fire extinguisher has been filled with soy milk, then
it would have been newsworthy.


Steve

"Kalmia" > wrote in message
...
> On Dec 2, 1:16 pm, Janet Bostwick > wrote:
>> by David Krough
>>
>> KTVB.COM
>>
>> Posted on December 1, 2011 at 10:36 AM
>>
>> PORTLAND - Portland fire crews said a rare combination of factors led
>> to the explosion in a tofu cooking accident in Northwest Portland last
>> weekend.
>>
>> Upon arrival Sunday evening, an injured woman told fire crews she was
>> starting to cook tofu in a pan when an explosion blew out the windows
>> of her apartment on NW 5th.
>>
>> She was treated for minor injuries.
>>
>> Investigators said a pan of oil caught fire and the person trying to
>> put it out placed it in a nearby sink where it got wet and released a
>> large amount of steam. Then, the windows in the woman's studio
>> apartment partially blew out and the overhead sprinkler activated.
>>
>> Damage was estimated at $15,000.
>
> Blame not the tofu. She just didn't know how to handle a pan fire,
> nor prevent it in the first place.


Exactly! While I'm not a fan of tofu, one does not put out a grease fire by
putting the pan in the sink and dousing it with water. I have never had a
grease fire but even I know to keep baking soda on hand. And I hope
everyone here has a fire extinguisher in their kitchen.

Jill

<cough> meth lab <cough>

Janet Bostwick > wrote:

>by David Krough
>KTVB.COM
>Posted on December 1, 2011 at 10:36 AM
>
>PORTLAND - Portland fire crews said a rare combination of factors led
>to the explosion in a tofu cooking accident in Northwest Portland last
>weekend.
>Upon arrival Sunday evening, an injured woman told fire crews she was
>starting to cook tofu in a pan when an explosion blew out the windows
>of her apartment on NW 5th.
>She was treated for minor injuries.
>Investigators said a pan of oil caught fire and the person trying to
>put it out placed it in a nearby sink where it got wet and released a
>large amount of steam. Then, the windows in the woman's studio
>apartment partially blew out and the overhead sprinkler activated.
>Damage was estimated at $15,000.

In article >,
"jmcquown" > wrote:

> "Kalmia" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On Dec 2, 1:16 pm, Janet Bostwick > wrote:

> >> Damage was estimated at $15,000.
> >
> > Blame not the tofu. She just didn't know how to handle a pan fire,
> > nor prevent it in the first place.
>
>
> Exactly! While I'm not a fan of tofu, one does not put out a grease fire by
> putting the pan in the sink and dousing it with water. I have never had a
> grease fire but even I know to keep baking soda on hand. And I hope
> everyone here has a fire extinguisher in their kitchen.

More handy hints:

http://firstaid.about.com/od/hazardo...greasefire.htm

I'll add:

1. Turn off the heat, if you can do that easily and safely.

2. If possible, do not try to move a pan with burning grease in it.
Burning down your kitchen may leave temporary scars on your psyche.
Spilling burning grease on your skin may leave permanent scars on your
skin.

3. Put the lid on the pan, if safe. That will stop the fire quickly,
if the fire is fully contained in the pan.

I was in a kitchen in a church when a pan where somebody was frying a
burger caught fire. They asked my wife for a lid. My wife didn't see
the right lid (none of us had been in this kitchen before). She found a
frying pan slighty larger than the one that was burning. The fire went
out instantly.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

On Sat, 03 Dec 2011 09:42:29 -0800 in rec.food.cooking, Dan Abel
> wrote,
>3. Put the lid on the pan, if safe. That will stop the fire quickly,
>if the fire is fully contained in the pan.

3a. Slide the lid over the fire from the side. Do not try to lower it
from straight above.