CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan -- Residential kitchen mishaps are the leading cause of fires in military housing, according to Marine Corps Base Camp Butler Fire Department personnel.

Shorts in electrical wiring are also a big contributor to causing fire damage.

But, there are many things service members and family members can do to prevent household fires, said Michael Joseph, assistant chief of Fire Prevention with the MCB Camp Butler Fire Department. 

The National Fire Protection Association has established guidelines to help prevent common incidents in the home.

Guidelines include: never leave food cooking on a stove or in the oven unattended, and turn off stoves and appliances immediately after using them. 

"It is common where we see fires caused from people who begin cooking, get distracted by children and lose focus of what they started in the kitchen," said Derrick Walley, the deputy fire chief with the MCB Camp Butler Fire Department.

"Over the past couple of years, there has been a big push on awareness of unattended cooking worldwide because of the amount of mishaps occurring," said Walley.

Joseph, echoing NFPA guidelines, advises housing residents keep cooking appliances clean because built-up grease catches fire easily and keep objects clear of the stove and burners at all times.

When in the kitchen, be alert and aware and minimize distractions, Joseph said.

Also, don't overload circuits and outlets by plugging in too many appliances in one area, especially heat-producing devices such as toasters, coffee pots or microwaves, he said. People should keep these heat-producing appliances away from walls and loose fabric, he added.

NFPA offers additional guidelines:

Turn pot handles inward when cooking to keep from bumping them in passing.
Enforce a "kid free zone" to keep children at least three feet away from the stove, so they are not within reach of hot or dangerous objects.
If a grease fire starts, smother it by carefully sliding a lid over the pan from one side to the other. 
Never pour water on a cooking fire; it will only enlarge the flame or splash burning grease onto nearby areas. If an oven fire starts, close the door and turn off the heat source. If the flame does not go out, call the fire department.
When dealing with a microwave fire, the best strategy is to keep the door closed and unplug it.  Do not use the appliance again until it is serviced or inspected.

For small, contained fires, a portable fire extinguisher can be used effectively to quench the flames, said MCB Camp Butler Fire Dept. personnel. The type or class of fire it can put out is identified on an extinguisher's label.

There are three classes of fires. An extinguisher labeled with Class A is effective on ordinary combustibles such as paper, wood or cloth materials. Class B extinguishes flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, grease or kerosene. Class C will put out fires started by electrical equipment such as wiring, fuse boxes, circuit breakers, machinery or appliances. Multi-purpose extinguishers are labeled as such and may be used on all three classes of fires.

"We are here to teach and answer any questions people may have about fire prevention," said Walley. "If people have doubts about how to use a fire extinguisher, all they need to do is call up fire prevention, and someone will come out and teach them the proper way to use it."

Any type of fire can be dangerous and should be treated with caution, said MCB Camp Butler Fire Dept. personnel.  If a fire seems too big to handle, call the fire department immediately, they advised.

If a member of the home is burned to the first or second degree run cool water over the burn to minimize skin damage; if a third degree burn, apply a dry sterile dressing. Seek medical attention immediately for all three, recommends MCB Camp Butler Fire Dept. personnel.

The average kitchen fire can cause damage to appliances and furniture around the burn area and can cause smoke damage throughout the home, said Hiroshi Kiyan, battalion chief of Fire Prevention with the MCB Camp Butler Fire Dept. Fixing damaged items can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000, he said. Including the cost for workers to come replace an item and clean smoke damaged areas, the costs can jump to around $3,000, he added. 

People don't realize that their mistakes can also seriously injure neighbors as well, added Walley. 

If a fire occurs in a service member's home, whether on or off base, immediately call 911 from an on-base phone or 911-1911 from an off-base regular phone. If calling from a cell phone, dial 098-911-1911.

"Whether the victims put out the fire themselves or we do, they need to call the fire department as soon as possible," said Joseph.

Once a fire occurs and the damage is done, the living conditions may be unsafe for those near its vicinity, said Joseph. The reason firefighters come out after a fire occurs is to inspect the area to ensure it is safe for the family to live in, he added.

For more information or to schedule a visit, call the Fire Prevention office at 645-0378.