Kitchen fires are one of the most common causes of house fires annually.
Sometimes a few minutes of negligence leads to severe damage and a safety hazard. Kitchen fires can be prevented with active safety measures.
Although it is not possible to completely remove all fire hazards from the kitchen, you can certainly minimize the chances of an outbreak.
In this article, we are going to share a few effective tips that will help you prevents fire accidents in your kitchen.
Keep reading to learn how you can keep your kitchen safe. Let’s dive right in!
Clean all appliances and Keep them Maintained
Keeping all electrical appliances clean and maintained in the kitchen is essential for preventing kitchen fires.
Often these appliances catch fire when there are crumbs or grease leftover on them. Make sure you wipe your toaster over and microwaves clean after each use.
You also need to keep them unplugged when you’re not using them, so they do not continue drawing power and increasing the risk of electrical short circuits.
Always Clean the Grease
The grease acts as one of the most common fuels for kitchen fires. When you cook anything on a stovetop or inside an over that incorporates lots of greases, it can get left behind.
Grease is extremely flammable and can cause the fire to spread very quickly.
That is why it is important that you clean your cooking equipment after using grease on them.
Make sure you remove it thoroughly and keep the surfaces dry and clean from it at all times.
Never Leave Children Unsupervised in the Kitchen
It is extremely important for your family’s safety that you make them aware of the hazards posed by a kitchen fire. Make sure you sit with your children and talk to them about the kitchen being a no-play zone.
Young children are naturally curious and try to use anything that they find remotely interesting. Therefore, it is your responsibility to ensure that they don’t enter the kitchen unattended while it is being used for cooking.
For older kids, talk to them about how to safely operate appliances and the safety measures that they should take while in the kitchen. They should also be aware of the steps that they need to take in case of emergencies.
Your family’s safety needs to be your number priority, and it all starts with having a conversation.
Never Leave the Stove On Unattended
Stove causes the biggest fire hazard when you’re cooking. That is why you need to make sure that you’re using it safely.
The rule of thumb is to never leave the stove unattended when you’re cooking on it, not even for a minute. Even a second’s negligence can end in a deadly outbreak if you’re not vigilant.
Whether you are cooking on a high or a low flame, the risk of an accident remains the same when it is left unattended.
The fire can burn the food and cause an outbreak within minutes.
Therefore, make sure you’re always attentive while cooking on a stovetop.
Keep All Electric Appliances Unplugged
When you’re not using the electrical appliances in the kitchen, but they are still plugged in, it means that they continue to draw power.
If your wiring has a fault or is old, it can cause overheating and lead to a fire outbreak pretty quickly.
That is why it is better to be safe and keep all your appliances, such as toasters, coffee machines, microwaves, etc., unplugged when not in use.
Get Smoke Detectors Installed near the Kitchen
Although installing smoke detectors inside a kitchen doesn’t make sense because they’ll keep going off, you can install them in a room next to the kitchen, so you’re alerted when there is an actual accident.
This is one of the most important precautionary measures for preventing kitchen fires in your home.
Keep a Fire Extinguisher at Hand
It is extremely important to have a functioning fire extinguisher on hand in case there is an accident. The extinguisher can help contain the damage early on and prevent the fire from spreading.
Make sure you purchase the right type of extinguisher and learn how to use it correctly.
For use at home, you should consider getting A-B-C extinguishers as they are capable of putting out three classes of fire, including flammable liquids, combustible materials, and electrical fires.
Make sure you and your family are trained to use it and understand the safety procedure in case of a fire. Always escape the premises when the fire is beyond control and call for help right away.
Only use microwave-safe products in the microwave
You probably heard as a kid not to put metal in the microwave.
Only use microwave-safe containers and products in the microwave.
Using metal in a microwave can cause a fire because the molecules inside the metal cannot move around as the molecules in food and beverages, which causes them to heat up.
Make sure your smoke detectors are working properly
It is important for your family’s safety that you get your smoke alarms tested every month to make sure that they are functioning properly.
If there are any issues, get them fixed right away. Check the batteries and replace them regularly to ensure that they work at their full capacity.
Do not Wear Loose-fit Clothes in the Kitchen.
When you’re cooking, make sure that you don’t wear loose-fitting clothes as they can come in your way and catch fire.
Roll up your sleeves or wear short sleeves when you’re cooking. Consider wearing an apron that is adequately tightened and keeps all loose ends tucked away.
Never Use Metal in a Microwave
Using inappropriate dishes inside a microwave is also a common cause of fire outbreaks and accidents in the kitchen.
Make sure you don’t put any metal plates or dishes inside the microwave to avoid a fire sparkle.
Don’t Overfill Pans with Grease or Oil.
In most cases, overfilled grease or oil spills over and catches fire leading to a massive fire outbreak in the kitchen.
Therefore, make sure you aren’t using excessive oil in dishes beyond their capacity.
Keep the Stovetop Away from Prep Materials and Free from Debris
Before you begin to cook, make sure you clean your stovetop from all debris. Move all the prep materials away from it on the side.
The cleaner and emptier the stovetop area is, the risk of something catching fire would be much less. Make sure you wipe all the spills clean and cook on a clean and spotless stovetop.
If there’s flammable debris on the stovetop, such as grease and oil spills, your stove can initiate a fire outbreak within seconds.
Keep Your Hair Tied Back in the Kitchen
If you have long or layered hair, make sure you tie them back properly.
You don’t want your hair to catch fire while you’re cooking. It not only ignited a fire but also puts your life in danger.
Never Leave your Cooking Unattended
When the food is being cooked in the kitchen, make sure you don’t leave it unattended.
This is especially important when you’re cooking on the stovetop or using a lot of oil and grease in your food.
Make sure you’re attentive to the food being cooked in order to avoid any accidents.
Keep all Inflammable Items Away from the Stove
When you’re cooking, you need to make sure that all inflammable items are away from the stove to prevent a kitchen fire.
Keep tissues, dish towels, paper towels, and pot holders as away from the stove as possible.
The more you are mindful of all the flammable materials in the kitchen and keeping them away from the stove, the safer your kitchen be from fire accidents.
Sometimes, something as minor as tissue paper can wreak havoc by igniting a fire, so it’s always advised to be attentive.
Never Cook under any Influence.
It is always better not to cook after a night out or when you’re drunk.
When a person is under the influence, it is easier to get distracted and not be careful with the cooking equipment.
This will not risk your kitchen but also your own life.
Final Thoughts
Kitchen fires are the most common cause of house fires. There are several fire safety hazards in the kitchen because it deals with active fire and electric appliances for cooking food.
Therefore, it is necessary to take all the safety precautions to prevent fires in your kitchen. By incorporating the tips discussed above, you can make your kitchen and home a safer space.
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