Quick! Toaster's on fire - again! Rush over and put it out with this how-to!
Step 1
Unplug the toaster from the electrical outlet if you can safely get close enough to it.
Step 2
Do nothing if the fire offers no threat of spreading; allow the fire to burn itself out. As an alternative, use baking powder to put out small fires that are contained in a toaster oven's baking tray. For traditional-style toasters, do not add anything to the fire.
Step 3
Use an ABC-type fire extinguisher if the fire threatens to spread itself to cabinets or other combustibles. If the fire has already spread, and is no longer containable with a fire extinguisher, exit the premises and dial 911 to report the fire.
Step 4
Wait for the toaster to cool before you touch it.
Step 5
Discard the toaster and buy a new one. The wiring in your toaster is probably damaged and no longer safe to use.
Tips
- Don't toast things that are topped with sugar or other flammables. (Frosted pop-tarts and marshmallows catch fire quite easily.)
- If you must toast flammable items, do multiple toasts on a low setting instead of one long toast.
- Keep a small fire extinguisher in your kitchen in case the fire gets out of hand. Every kitchen should have one.
- When making Toaster Strudels always keep the box of remaining strudels close by to replace any that may become burnt. No one likes a burnt strudel.
Warnings
- Don't try to blow the flames out. Puffing air over them might make things worse and could get you burned.
- Don't use water to put out an electrical (or grease) fire!
