Many years ago after we did our O levels at school we had a bunch of organisations come in to school doing talks and demonstrations. One such talk was by the Fire Brigade who demonstrated the dangers of chip pan fires. I remember the fireman extinguishing a chip pan fire and then shortly after, him pointing his finger near it, and the fire reigniting. I think I remember him saying it was the heat from his finger but recounting this story tonight, my friends don’t believe me, or at least would like to know how this can happen. Can anyone help explain please?
In: Chemistry
Chip pans during a fire get really hot and remain so for long after the fire has been put out by starving it of oxygen, so reintroducing oxygen to the pan by lifting the lid can cause that stored heat to reignite the fire without a direct flame.
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