Fire Hazards to Consider While Cooking

4/12/2021 (Permalink)

The most common place for a fire to start in the home is on a stove top in the kitchen, not in the oven.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking fires are actually the number one cause of home fires and injuries. Between 2014-2018, 49% of home fires are a cause of cooking equipment, which resulted in 21% of the home fire deaths and 44% of the injuries. Tragically, holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, Easter, and Christmas Eve are some of the peak days for home fires, when more cooking than usual takes place in the home.

Fire Hazards in the Kitchen

• The most common place for a fire to start in the home is on a stove top in the kitchen, not in the oven. When cooking on the stove top, always be sure to stay alert and do not leave any food unattended.
• Make sure there are no curtains, towel racks, or even paper towel dispensers too close to any burners that could be potential fire hazards and spread any flames.
• If the microwave in your home is not built in, make sure there is no clutter nearby and the vents are not obstructed.

How to Avoid Home Cooking Fires

• Buy a fire extinguisher to keep in your kitchen within easy reach if a fire starts while cooking.
• You should never walk away from a stove top for more than a few minutes at a time. A good rule of thumb is to set a timer for every five minutes to remind you to check your stove top and to make sure your food is not burnt.
• You should not operate any appliances or potential fire hazards if you are not alert. Being too tired or under the influence while cooking can lead to dangerous situations.
• Keep anything that could catch fire such as oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains, a safe distance away from the stove.
• Maintain your smoke alarms to ensure they are working properly and in good condition.
• Properly clean and take care of all of the vent, stovetops, counter tops and oven interiors to prevent any house fires.

What to Do If a Kitchen Fire Occurs

• You should NOT toss water on a grease fire. If you do not have an extinguisher and a fire starts in a pan, put a lid on top of the pan to extinguish the flames.
• In an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed.
• Get out as soon as possible! Close any doors behind you to contain the fire.
• Call 911 as soon as you can get out safely.