Preventing Kitchen Fires

8/18/2021 (Permalink)

Getting the right information, customers can prevent kitchen fires in their own homes, keeping their families and homes safe.

Did you know that cooking fires are one of the main causes of home fires! Even though you can’t prevent every source of a kitchen fire, you can minimize fire risks with knowing the right information. Follow these fire prevention tips to reduce your chances of a kitchen fire and keep you and your kitchen safe.

1. Make sure your appliances are always serviced, clean, and in good repair. Wipe down the microwave. Clean the oven. Dump and clean the crumb tray in toasters and toaster ovens. Unplug appliances that start acting strange, and then have them repaired or replaced.

2. Unplug any electric appliances that are not in use. Toasters, blenders, coffee makers, and any other appliances continue to draw electricity to them, even if they are not turned on. If the wiring is old or faulty, a fire could break out.

3. Install a smoke detector near the kitchen. A small amount of smoke will constantly trigger the alarm if the smoke detector is directly in the kitchen. Installing the smoke detector near the kitchen will pick up the heavy smoke when needed.

4. Use caution when lighting a burner on a gas stove. Make sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions.

5. Don’t put metal in the microwave. Metal can cause sparks that could then turn into a fire or do heavy damage to your microwave.

6. Don’t overfill pots and pans with oil or grease. Hot oil or grease can splatter causing a fire.

7. Wipe up any spills and never cook on a dirty stove. Grease buildup is very flammable. Having a clean stove is a fire free stove.

8. Roll up your sleeves and tie back your hair when cooking. Baggy clothing and long hair can easily get in the way while cooking, causing you to get hurt.

9. Don’t take your eye off of cooking food. Always stay in the kitchen when you are cooking, especially if you are cooking grease or if the oven is at a very high temperature. If you need to leave the house, make sure to turn off the oven and any burners you had on.

10. Keep all dishtowels, potholders, and paper towels away from the stove. If you leave a burner on, the built up heat can ignite combustible near the stove area.

If you experience unexpected fire damage in your home, call SERVPRO of South Columbus at (614) 863-1392.