4 Important Tips To Prevent Kitchen Fires

9/18/2020 (Permalink)

Kitchen fire damage in Holcombe, GA

Tips To Avoid a Kitchen Fire

If you live in Holcombe, GA, you probably spend a lot of time in your home’s kitchen — which is also the room where most home fires start. Here are a few simple safety tips to help you avoid a kitchen fire.

1. Don't Forget About Your Food
Stay in the kitchen when you're using the stove, and watch out for warning signs, such as a smoking pan or boiling-over pot. Always set a timer, even for short cooking times. When you're finished cooking, be sure to turn off the burners or oven.

2. Keep Your Cooking Space Clean and Clear
Spills and grease spatters can ignite quickly, so be sure to wipe down your stove and clean your oven regularly. Keep the area around the stove clear of flammable items, like potholders, paper towels or cookbooks. Fire can quickly spread to these objects; in fact, fire restoration experts say this is one of the most common ways that grease fires spread to the rest of the kitchen and beyond.

3. Don’t Put Metal in the Microwave
This is one of the best-known fire prevention tips, but microwave fires remain extremely common. Utensils or aluminum foil are obvious sources of metal, but metal can also be present in other places, such twist-ties, takeout container handles, or the remnants of foil seals. Carefully check everything you put in the microwave to ensure it is microwave-safe.

4. Be Prepared To Smother Flames Quickly
A fire extinguisher is your best bet to stop a fire, so keep one in your kitchen or nearby. If you don’t have an extinguisher, throw baking soda onto the fire. Never put water on a grease fire! If the flames are in a pan, cover the pan with a lid (or a large cookie sheet). If the fire is in the oven, close the oven door and turn off the oven.
While you can’t eliminate every fire hazard from your kitchen, following these tips will go a long way toward keeping you and your home safe from fire damage.