Finally a fire extingushed. Wifey says she's heard of a new kind available
that
turns "fat to soap". Anyone know what it's called and who may sell such a
thing?

Special use wet chemical. Very expensive. Very effective. More likely to be
found in a chip shop.

http://www.bonusfire.co.uk/detail.ph...egory=2&item=6

A good type to have in a kitchen is ABC powder. Don't buy a diddy 1 litre
one for 25GBP in a shed. Get a 6kg for about 40GBP online. That will
actually put out a contained fire, such as a dustbin. An alternative is AFFF
foam, although powder is probably superior. Avoid water and CO2 for
kitchens.

http://www.bonusfire.co.uk/detail.ph...gory=3&item=11
http://www.bonusfire.co.uk/detail.ph...egory=2&item=5

Get some training on how to use them. Without training (and usually with
training too), their most effective use is to smash windows. The best plan
is almost always to get out and leave firefighting to the experts. However,
they can be useful in the initial stages of a contained fire, if you know
what you're doing and have already initiated the evacuation.

Probably the most important thing to remember about fire safety after smoke
alarms is teaching children an escape plan. The most important element of
this is teaching them not to hide. It is instinctive for young children to
hide in wardrobes in a fire, which is a death sentence. They must be told to
run for a door, and if no doors are available, to go to a room with a
window, shut the door and scream from the window.

ps We do have a fire alarm!

What type, though? Best is to have mains interlinked battery backup smoke
alarms through the entire house, except near the kitchen, which should have
a heat sensor mounted on the ceiling. This gives an effective alarm with
pretty much zero false alarms. An alarm which goes off every breakfast is in
chocolate teapot territory.

Christian.