Home Fire Prevention

8/17/2019 (Permalink)

Almost half of home fires originate in the kitchen area of the home, which 66% of are started with food or other cooking materials burning. With these numbers being so high, it is important to take precautions and constantly be paying attention when anyone is in the kitchen cooking.

Below are seven things to “Be” when in the kitchen:

Be Timely- use a timer to avoid burning food.

Be Smart- use all appliances properly, and check cords regularly for fraying. Also, make sure to never put metal in the microwave.

Be Proactive- Purchase a fire extinguisher for your kitchen, and make sure everyone in the home knows how to use it.

Be Restrictive- restrict children from being in the kitchen without supervision, and make sure any pets will not get underfoot and cause issues.

Be Clean- make sure to wipe up spills on any cooking surfaces. These spills are a great course for a fire to begin. While your stove and counter top are obvious places to watch, don’t forget the crumbs in the bottom of your toaster!

Be Careful- Do not wear long sleeves, as they can easily get dripped in your cooking and make a mess. Also pull back long hair and throw trash away as soon as possible so it does not get on any hot surfaces.

Be Present- The #1 cause of fires is the person cooking stepping out of the kitchen. If you need to leave for any reason, turn off appliances until you return. 

Other sources: 

https://flsamerica.com/blog/7-simple-steps-to-protecting-your-home-from-kitchen-fires-2/

https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Top-fire-causes/Cooking