Kitchen Fire Safety

23 Jan Kitchen Fire Safety

We recently discussed fireplace safety here on the blog, but there are certainly more fire hazards in your home that should also be addressed. One thing that most every home has is a kitchen. Kitchen fires can be very serious and cause significant damage to your home if you are not careful. In fact, the number one cause of most house fires is due to unattended cooking. Take these precautions to prevent kitchen fires:

• Never leave food unattended when it is cooking. If you need to leave the kitchen, turn off the stove.
• Use a timer so you can be alerted when foods are done cooking. Promptly remove the food from the stove and turn off the heat.
• Always keep pot handles turned inward to prevent accidents.
• Wear clothes that will not get caught in the flames. Stay away from loose fitting or dangling sleeves. If you have long hair, consider pulling it back.
• Check the food frequently to make sure it is not in danger of catching fire.
• Use pot holders to grab hot items instead of towels that could catch fire.
• Teach children about kitchen safety and do not allow them near the stove or oven when they are on.
• Keep your stove and kitchen clean to avoid grease build up.
• Do not place anything that could catch fire on or near the burners- even when they are off!
• Keep a fire extinguisher close by.
• Before you go to bed or leave the house, make sure your oven and stove are turned off.
• Check your smoke alarms to make sure they are working properly. Replace batteries every six months and check them every month to make sure you can clearly hear the alarm when it sounds.

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