So what do you do in this and other home emergency situations?

Test your emergency savvy by taking our quiz. Find out how much you know about what to do — and, more importantly, what not to do — when the unexpected happens.

Your plan of action should be:

A. Turn on the exhaust fan above your stove and turn off the eye or burner. Then grab the pan with a hot pad and place it in the sink.

B. Grab your fire extinguisher and use it.

C. Turn off the burner, remove the pan with a hot pad, and place it in the sink or on a fireproof surface, like a granite countertop. Or take it outside.

Answer: Surprise. There's more than one answer here.

But if the pan is filled with flaming oil, be careful not to spread the oil and flames with the force of the extinguisher spray, Tejada said. Covering up the pan with a lid is an alternative.

If you can manage it, C is a good option that should prevent further damage. It's always wise, once a burned pan is completely cool, to throw it away, as its quality and usefulness are probably going to be compromised.

Whatever you do, don't turn on your exhaust fan. It might suck the flames up into the duct and cause a major fire. If the fan is on when the pan fire starts and the flames get large, turn off the stove, evacuate the house and use a neighbor's phone to immediately call the fire department.

When you're cleaning up later, whatever you do, don't add water to get rid of soot, said ServiceMaster Clean's Pete Duncanson, who is director of training for disaster restoration at the company, which specializes in fire and water cleanup services. "If you add water (to soot), you've got a mess," he says.

Instead, use a dry cleaning sponge. "It looks like a big eraser, and you can find it in the paint department at Home Depot," Duncanson said. "The key is this: dry soil, remove it dry."

You're dozing on your sofa at twilight and wake up to the overwhelming smell of natural gas. You're not sure if it's inside or outside your home. Your first action should be to:

A. Evacuate the house of all people and pets without turning on any lights. Don't use the phone; go to a neighbor's house to call the gas company.

B. Open a window, then turn on the lights and call the gas company from your cell phone.

C. Turn on a lamp, go take a look at your furnace and then call the gas company.

Answer: Your answer should have been A.

This is a situation for a professional. Because any spark has the potential to set off an explosion, you don't want to risk turning on any lights (even a flashlight) or using any type of telephone.

Before evacuating, make sure the gas valves on your stove are in the off position, because that may be where the problem is, said Steve Golden, spokesman for The Gas Co. on O'ahu.

"Also open doors and windows to disperse the gas," Golden said.

Call your gas provider from your neighbor's house to report a potential leak. If you don't have the number handy, call 911 and ask them to contact the gas company.

You notice a power line is down in your yard. You should:

A. Get a stick or wooden board and try to move it out of the way of your driveway.

B. Call your electrician. Then shut off the power to your house at the breaker box.

C. Call your electricity provider and make sure that nobody goes near the line until officials from the utility arrive.

Answer: It's C.

A damaged or downed power line should always be handled by experienced professionals.

Note: Just because a downed line isn't sparking doesn't mean that it still isn't a "live" wire. So if the wire happens to be across a road, stay well clear of the power line and set up a barrier so unsuspecting traffic won't run over it.

You come home to standing water in your laundry room. First, you should:

A. Go outside, use your cell phone (or a neighbor's phone) and call your plumber. While you're waiting for them to arrive, notify your insurance company.

B. Shut off the electrical power to your entire house at the breaker box, as well as the water supply to your home. If you live on O'ahu, do this by shutting off the property valve, which is on the property side of the meter. Then, call your insurance company and take photographs of the damage

C. Wade into the room, shut off the water supply to the washing machine, then start soaking up the water with towels. Replace the washing machine hoses on your own, then put a box fan in the doorway to dry out the floor and walls.

Answer: You're right if you chose B.

According to Duncanson of ServiceMaster Clean, a Memphis-based company with franchises throughout the country, it's imperative to immediately try to prevent further damage by turning off the water.

"There's actually a clause in most insurance policies that says you as a homeowner are responsible to mitigate damage," he said. This is what's often known as a "duties and obligations" clause in homeowners' policies. (If you're a renter, contact your management company as quickly as you can.)

Whatever you do, don't wade into a room that's full of water if the power is still on in your house.

Duncanson suggested moving furniture, among other things, out of the water while waiting for a pro to arrive. "At least loop the drapes on a coat hanger so they stay out of the water," he said.

Advertiser staff writer Zenaida Serrano contributed Hawai'i information to this report. Reach her at 535-8174 or zserrano@honoluluadvertiser.com.