Families in Bahrain have been urged to watch their pots before things literally boil over, with a senior official warning that unattended cooking can quickly burn more than just the food.
Hidd Police Station head Colonel Dr Osama Bahar has stated that the kingdom has recorded more than 180 cases of fire breaking out in the home due to an unattended stove since 2024.
Speaking on the Interior Ministry’s Al Aman social media programme, he urged people to be vigilant every time they make a meal to avoid further kitchen calamities.
The warning comes weeks ahead of Ramadan in mid-February, when families are expected to spend hours in the kitchen making meals for iftar after a long day of fasting.
“Negligence and complacency has resulted in the kitchen burning down, and in some cases, even spreading to the rest of the house,” said Col Dr Bahar.
“People have suffered burns from not just the fire, but also from hot oil. Most of the burns were moderate (second-degree).
“To avoid such dangers, it is crucial to teach your children and other people in the house, including domestic workers, to not leave a frying pan with oil on the stove unattended.”
In order to treat first and second degree burns, the National Civil Protection Platform recommends to place the affected area under warm running water for first-degree burns, or submerge it for second-degree burns for at least 10 minutes.
The wound should then be covered with sterile gauze and to avoid using lotions, ointments or creams. For more severe burns, call immediately an ambulance by dialling 999.
In order to avoid a fire breaking out to begin with, Col Dr Bahar has some preventative measures people can take while cooking.
“Cook while ventilation is on to remove harmful gas from the kitchen,” he said.
“Clean the oven regularly in order to remove accumulated grease, or hire someone to do it properly for you.
“Invest in a fire blanket and fire extinguisher. They do not cost much and can save lives.
“Finally, if you do not have one already, replace your kitchen door with a fire-resistant one. It can go a long way to protect your home, yourself and your family.”
In case a fire breaks out in the kitchen, the authorities recommend to close the kitchen door and windows, then move everyone to a safe area. Place a damp cloth over the residents’ noses and mouths, and crawl on hands and knees to avoid the smoke.
If accessible, it is recommended to close the gas connection and fight the fire if you can with an extinguisher, but only if it does not pose a danger to anyone’s wellbeing.
The GDN reported that last week, Col Dr Bahar urged people to ensure that gas cylinders are never stored inside the kitchen, where the chances of a spark or fire are highest.
He explained that the cylinder must be kept in an open, shaded area, far from the kitchen and away from any electrical appliances or sources of electric current, as even a single spark can trigger an explosion.
In the case that the smell of gas is prevalent, whether in the kitchen or anywhere else, he stated that people should not switch on the lights, as even a small spark can ignite an explosion.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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