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A ball of flames got here off a pan of burning cooking oil throughout a hearth security demonstration on the Marshall Fire Department’s annual open home. Lt. Justin Staeffler of the MFD confirmed that water doesn’t put out grease fires.

MARSHALL — Food and hearth security got here collectively on the Marshall Fire Department’s open home this yr. Kids and households gathered outdoors the hearth corridor, as firefighters lit the burner on a mock-up of a fuel range.

“We wanted to try something a little different this year,” Fire Chief Quentin Brunsvold informed the gang. Part of the open home was an indication of a kitchen grease hearth.

As the gang waited, a pan on the stovetop heated up, and cooking oil contained in the pan caught hearth. While sporting his turnout gear for security, Lt. Justin Staeffler of the MFD demonstrated what occurs should you put water on a grease hearth.

“Did it make a big fireball?” Brunsvold requested.

“Yeah!” answered children within the viewers.

Instead of water, Brunsvold mentioned you may put baking soda on a grease hearth, or put a tight-fitting steel lid on the pan.

Thursday’s open home on the hearth corridor was one of many occasions hosted by the MFD for Fire Prevention Week. It’s an opportunity for the neighborhood to get to know their firefighters. It was good “just being able to come to the fire station and see people,” Brunsvold mentioned. But the hearth division additionally took the chance to teach the general public.

Brunsvold mentioned the MFD discovered the kitchen hearth demonstration trailer used at this yr’s open home by way of the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association. It was a great instance to share with folks – kitchen fires are the primary explanation for home fires, he mentioned. The MFD responds to studies of smoke or hearth from cooking just a few occasions a month, Brunsvold estimated.

The MFD was additionally spreading the phrase about safely charging lithium-ion batteries. The theme of this yr’s Fire Prevention Week is “Charge Into Fire Safety.”

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries will be present in all the pieces from smartphones to laptops and energy instruments. But in the event that they’re not accurately used, the batteries can overheat and begin a hearth. When charging a battery-powered product, Brunsvold mentioned it’s essential to make use of the chargers and charging cables that got here with it. If you purchase a battery-powered product, it’s additionally essential to examine to see whether it is listed or licensed by a acknowledged security firm like Underwriters Laboratories, he mentioned.