Tips To Avoid Kitchen Fires

Did you know that fire and water damage due to cooking fires are the Number Onecause of home fires and home injuries? During 2007-2011, U.S. Fire Departments responded to an estimated average of 156,600 home-structure fires involving cooking equipment per year. These fires caused an annual average of400 civilian deaths, 5,080 civilian injuries, and $853 million in direct property damage.

And the leading cause of these fires? Unattendend cooking!

We have put together a list of safety tips to practice while cooking in the kitchen:

• When you are cooking, stay in or near the kitchen. Check on the food often. I will often set the timer on my stove in 5 or 10 minute increments when I am cooking. If I go to another room in the house and get distracted, the timer goes off and I remember I have something on the stove.

• If you are frying, grilling or broiling, NEVER leave the kitchen. If you must leave the kitchen, turn off the stove or oven.

• Keep children and pets at least 3 feet away from the stove if you cooking. If you need to, especially if you have younger children, tape off the floor and let them know when you are cooking, they can’t cross over the tape.

• However because children, especially younger ones, don’t always listen to us, turn pot handles toward the center of the stove, so that children can’t reach them and you don’t accidentally bump into them.

• Keep things that can cause fires away from the burners and the oven. Pot holders, papers, dish towels, curtains, food packaging, etc., need to be kept away from the stove when you are cooking.

• Don’t wear loose clothing while cooking. Billowy sleeves, large oversized shirts; even aprons can catch fire if you get them too close to the flame.

• Never throw hot grease in the garbage can. Let grease cool and dispose of it in an old coffee can.

• Consider purchasing a fire extinguisher to keep in your kitchen. Contact your local fire department to take training on the proper use of extinguishers.

• Install a smoke alarm near your kitchen, on each level of your home, near sleeping areas, and inside and outside bedrooms if you sleep with doors closed. Use the test button to check it each month. Replace all batteries at least once a year.

• Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving the home to make sure all stoves, ovens, and small appliances are turned off.

In addition to following the tips above, make sure you have smoke alarms on each floor and in every bedroom. For more information on smoke alarm safety, clickhere to read our blog post on fire alarm safety. Be sure to also plan and practice a home fire drill at least twice a year so that everyone in the house knows how to get outside fast in the case of a fire

From beginning to end, we can handle 100% of the restoration process so you don’t have to. This can include content pack-outs, cleaning & storage of personal property, structural drying & mitigation, mold remediation, lead & asbestos abatement, and full re-construction services. We are licensed, bonded, and fully insured. We abide by all state and federal laws, and are certified as a “Lead Safe Renovator” with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and accredited with the IICRC.

For more information on Emergency Fire & Water Restoration, or the services we provide, give us a call at 414-810-3522, or visit our website at www.emergencyrest.com