6 Tips to Avoid Kitchen Fires

10/13/2019 (Permalink)

When it's time to cook, focus on cooking.

Six Tips To Avoid a Kitchen Fire

Nearly 31 percent of all fires happen in residential homes. Of those, approximately half of them start in the kitchen. To keep your home in Vail, CO, protected, below are six tips to avoid a kitchen fire and extensive fire damage.

1. Keep It Clean

When it comes to tips, the easiest one is to keep things clean. Regularly inspect and service appliances to ensure they function properly. This includes disposing of toaster crumbs and cleaning the oven and microwave. Particles left behind could potentially ignite.

2. Unplug Small Appliances

Along with being energy efficient, unplugging toasters, mixers and other small appliances is a good habit. If they are older models, the wiring could begin to fail. If left plugged in, it could overheat and cause a fire.

3. Install and Maintain a Smoke Detector

A smoke detector is the first line of defense in fire safety. One should be installed near the kitchen but not in it so cooking smoke or steam doesn’t set it off. Be sure to change the batteries every six months to ensure it can be counted on.

4. Eliminate Buildup

A grease fire can happen when too much of it is being used and splatters. If it does spill over and is forgotten, it still retains its flammable properties.

5. Stay Involved

Like driving, when it’s time to cook, focus on cooking. When preparing food, items on the stove or in the oven should never be left unattended. Food can quickly bubble over or begin to burn.

6. Keep Fabrics Away

While cooking, avoid wearing long sleeves, which could easily catch fire. Keep towels, oven mitts and any paper products away from burners. Even the best chef has likely forgotten to turn off a burner. In the even that happens, making it habit to keep flammable objects away will keep a fire at bay.
These simple tips are easy ways to ensure the kitchen remains a safe zone. Changing a few habits can help you avoid needing professional help with fire damage cleanup.