By some estimates, cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States and New Mexico, and these estimates unfortunately increase around holidays. The National Fire Protection Association reports that more dangerous fires start in the kitchen than anywhere else in the home. Your kitchen should be the center of warmth and affection in your home, not a point of danger. American Restoration suggests following some smart cooking safety tips throughout the year in order to protect your home from fire and smoke damage, and make sure your kitchen is only associated with your fantastic cooking!
First and foremost, when it comes to fire safety in the kitchen, never leave your cooking unattended! Unattended cooking is the leading cause of fires in the kitchen. When you’re dealing with open flames from gas stoves, or high temperatures of electric stoves, you should always be present and attentive, monitoring your cooking’s progress as long as necessary. When it comes to what you’re cooking, be most vigilant when frying foods, as this process poses the greatest risk of starting a home fire, and frequently causes the most fire damage to homes.
When you’re cooking on a range, avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing, especially shirts with long, flowing sleeves. Watch children to make sure that they don’t come in contact with cooking food or hot stove pots, and always point the handles of pots toward the back of the stove. Making these simple adjustments to your cooking routine can safeguard your home from fire and reduce the need for costly fire remediation services down the road.
If you unintentionally start a fire in your kitchen, you should first attempt to mitigate fire damage by using a fire extinguisher to put out the flame. Aim for the base of the fire, not the flames themselves to make the most impact. If you were cooking with grease, don’t use water to try to stop the fire, apply a fire extinguisher in this event. Never swat a fire with a towel, apron, or other clothing, as this can spread the flames and increase your likelihood of injury.
Of course, be sure to evacuate everyone from the house and call 911 in order to make sure that all fire is extinguished and that it is safe to re-enter the home. Browse our blog for more ideas on how to fireproof your kitchen and prevent other damage from flooding and similar disasters.
For all of your questions and disaster remediation needs, contact American Restoration for speedy service around the state of New Mexico.
