Kitchen fires are incredibly common and dangerous. According to the NFPA, an estimated average of over 172,000 home cooking fires occurred each year during the 2014-2018 period. They led to over a billion dollars in property damage, over 4,800 injuries, and nearly 550 deaths.
These aren’t small numbers, which is why we ask…
Top 9 Ways to Prevent Kitchen Fires
Here are the top 9 ways to prevent kitchen fires and keep your family and home safe.
1. Don’t Leave Cooking Unattended
Unattended pots and pans are the number one cause of kitchen fires. It may seem difficult, especially when slow cooking, but it is extremely important.
2. Wear Snug Clothing
Accidents happen all the time. If you are wearing loose clothing or clothing with loose sleeves, the chances of your clothing catching fire increase tenfold.
3. Set Timers
It is easy to forget things in a busy or overworked kitchen, and timers allow you to prevent anything from bursting into flames because it was left on the stove for too long.
4. Keep Flammables Away from the Stove
You should always keep recipe papers, wooden utensils, packaging, mitts, paper towels, and other flammable things far away from the stove.
5. Avoid Kids Near the Stove
You should teach your kids to cook because it is an essential life skill. However, you should make sure they keep their distance from the stove until they are old enough to manage things better.
6. Grease Safety
Grease buildup can easily catch fire. Keep your stove, exhaust, and affected areas clean and wipe away any grease buildup. Never trash hot grease and never throw water on a grease fire. It’ll only become worse.
7. Disconnect Old, Faulty, or Damaged Appliances
Old, faulty, or damaged toasters, microwaves, and other such electrical appliances may create sparks that cause kitchen fires.
8. Install and Maintain a Fire Extinguisher and Smoke Alarm
Smoke alarms and fire extinguishers are essential for fire safety! It is also important to update extinguishers before they expire and test smoke alarms every month.
9. Check Everything Before Bed
Ensure that your stove and non-essential appliances are turned off before bed.
Conclusion
We recommend that you follow these top 9 ways to prevent kitchen fires and, hopefully, never face a kitchen fire. However, if something goes wrong, we highly recommend expert professionals like Major Restoration for fire damage cleanup.
Moreover, they can help you with fire safety around your kitchen and home. Do not hesitate to learn more about preventing kitchen fires and about the professional experts at Major Restoration by visiting our website today.
