…Had to use a fire extinguisher in the kitchen – until now

So it seems as if I keep meeting more and more of my roommates while cooking dinner.  This is actually turning into a pretty neat event, because we all have different cultures and having different food selections.  But tonight was a major first. 

I met two roommates who are interning at Merck Pharmaceuticals, which is apparently decently far away from where we are staying.  So while I was cooking my rice mixture (broccoli and cheddar) with chicken and diced tomatoes as well as corn – which is a pretty typical American cuisine.  In the meantime, my roommate started making a South African meal (which appeared to be pretty tasty with a wide mixture of flavors). So while we were there discussing our meals and what we were doing in Philadelphia – her pot started to sizzle.  She told me it is normal, because it has oil in the pot.  But the one thing that was not normal….was the pot burst into flames!  Well, stupidly, I just kind of looked at her and she made the comment, “well, that’s not normal…” Ha, so I mentioned if we should add water to it, but then she said since it is just oil, it might make things worse.  So I had noticed the fire extinguisher earlier this week, so I went to grab it and hand it to her.  And due to the most recent online modules I have had to take for my orientation at the Children’s Hospital, I knew that I needed to P.A.S.S. or pull the pin, aim a the flame, squeeze the handle and sweep the flame.  I had already pulled the pin and was about to aim and squeeze until I realized maybe I should move my pan of rice out of the way (which I was not smart enough to do with my pan of corn :-( sad).  Then, I squeezed the handle and POOF!!! Out bursts the chemical/powder/burst of smoke from the extinguisher.  Successfully, I put out the fire!! Yay, go me. 

The aftermath consisted of dust on the stove as well as in my corn :-(.   Overall, this became a pretty good ice breaker when you are just meeting someone, ha.  But if you are trying to figure out the best way to start a conversation, do not feel as if you have to start a fire to do so.  Now I am starting to wonder what will happen the next time I make dinner!!