Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior (MOI) has issued a public safety advisory through its official social media platforms, urging residents to take necessary precautions to prevent cooking oil fires at home. The ministry stressed that awareness of preventive measures plays an important role in enhancing household safety.
According to the Ministry of Interior, cooking oil fires can occur when oil is excessively heated and begins to release flammable vapours. When these vapours are exposed to high heat, they can ignite rapidly and intensely, leading to the outbreak of a fire.
The ministry outlined three key steps to follow if a cooking oil fire breaks out. These include immediately turning off the heat source without touching the burning container, cutting off the oxygen supply by carefully covering the container with a fire blanket, a fire-resistant lid or a damp cloth, and sliding the cover gradually from one side rather than placing it directly on top.
The MOI cautioned the public against using water to extinguish cooking oil fires, explaining that water turns into steam and expands rapidly, dispersing burning oil particles and causing the fire to spread further and become more dangerous.
As part of its prevention advice, the ministry urged residents not to leave oil unattended on the stove for long periods, to remain cautious when smoke begins to rise from cooking oil, and to keep flammable materials away from heat sources. Maintaining a clean kitchen and removing oil and grease residues were also highlighted as important safety measures.
The advisory concluded by emphasising that public safety remains a priority and encouraged residents to stay informed and cautious while cooking.
