Safety Tips for Preventing Kitchen Fires

10/8/2019 (Permalink)

Did you know that cooking fires are the most common causes of home fires and home fire injuries? Pans left unattended while hot on the stove are obvious culprits but there are a number of less obvious causes that may be news to you. Because house fires are extremely dangerous for your family, the theme for this year’s National Fire Prevention Week (October 5 – 11) is Prevent Home Fires. Here are tips to prevent kitchen fires and keep your family safe.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking fires are not only the leading cause of home structure fires, the majority of kitchen fire injuries occur when victims try to fight the fire themselves. Wouldn’t it be smarter to avoid cooking fires altogether? You can, with the following kitchen safety tips from third generation and 30-year fire department veteran John Borboa, fire chief in the Central Valley of California.

Stay in the kitchen

“The most common fires occur from people leaving food on the stove unattended. Don’t leave the kitchen while you have things cooking,” warns Borboa. If you have to leave the kitchen, turn off the stove and take your pots and pans off the heat. This is equally important if you are broiling food in the oven – take the food out of the oven and turn off the broiler.

Watch your clothing

Long, flowing sleeves, large-fitting shirts and even aprons can catch fire. Borboa recommends that, when cooking, wear short or close-fitted sleeves and keep your baggy shirts tucked in or tied back with a well-fitted apron.

Be aware of the items around the stovetop

Kitchen towels, oven mitts, appliance cords and even curtains can easily catch fire if set near a hot burner. Always move flammable items away from your stovetop. “And be careful when using towels to move a pot off the burner. Ideally, use an oven mitt, but if using a towel, be sure it doesn’t dangle down and touch the burner,” adds Borboa.

Keep a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen

In the case you do have a fire, a fire extinguisher can make the difference between an easy to clean up burned pan and a kitchen engulfed in flames. Be sure you actually know how to use it, too.

Change the batteries in your smoke detector

Chances are you have a smoke detector in the kitchen or in the room adjacent to the kitchen. Borboa says its not enough to havea smoke detector – you need to make sure the smoke detector is operable. He recommends changing your smoke detector batteries every six months.

Never throw hot grease in the garbage can

“First of all, know the smoke points of your oils and never subject an oil with a low smoke point to high heat cooking – it can catch fire,” says Borboa. “Second, never throw hot grease in the garbage can. Even if the grease isn’t on fire, it can cause something in the garbage to burn.” Instead, let grease cool and dispose of it in an old coffee can.

Source: https://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/805729/safety-tips-to-prevent-kitchen-fires/