How to Keep Your Kitchen Safe from Fire, Common Causes & Prevention Tips

Everyone needs to know kitchen fire safety rules and regulations. Most house fires reportedly start in the kitchen, where cooking was supposedly left unattended. In this write-up, you will learn how to prevent such a scenario.

Kitchen fire safety is the education of the rules and regulations of what to do and what not to do when a kitchen fire occurs. There are a few things you should be aware of in the case of a kitchen fire to minimise the risks. Nevertheless, you can do a few things in such an unfortunate event, like maintaining your cooking space and eliminating fire hazards.

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Here are the 5 most common ways that may cause a kitchen fire:

• High Cooking Temperatures: To cook food, you need to ignite it. However, baking, frying, or boiling sets the heat up to what is necessary and keeps the flames from rising above the utensil. Cooking within the limits of mandated temperatures will help avoid dangerous situations where an unfortunate kitchen fire may start.
• Faulty electrical appliances: If a kitchen appliance is older than a decade, it is highly likely to have internal degradation. Such faulty appliances may lead to overheating and electrical fires. If repairs of such appliances cost you more than half their actual price, then it may be time to purchase a new one. To ensure kitchen fire safety, often check your kitchen appliances from time to time.
• Frying food with oil: Frying food is a leading cause of kitchen fires. Frying requires oil, which is flammable. Therefore, it is advisable to be extra careful while deep frying in a saucepan. Ensure the oil does not splash out of the cooking utensils onto flames. Consider buying a thermostatically controlled electric skillet and fryer. Also, use non-stick utensils and cooking spray to fry your food.
• Greasy kitchen ducts and oven hoods: Grease traps are another major cause of kitchen fires. The kitchen duct and ventilation system is a prime spot for grease and grime accumulation, especially the vents and fans. Since grease is a primary culprit for kitchen fires, keeping your kitchen ductwork clean is a healthy habit. Similarly, oven hoods are also home to grease and grime build-up. If not maintained and cleaned correctly, oven hoods may contribute to being a considerable fire hazard.
• Combustibles near open flames: Another typical reason for kitchen fire break-outs is from flammable objects placed near open flames. Ensure that your kitchen countertop is clutter-free and all flammable objects are at least 3 feet away from fire sources. These include plastics and bags, towels and rags, wooden utensils, books and papers, oven mitts, curtains, clothing, etc.

Follow these 8 tips to prevent fire in your kitchen:

• Install functional smoke detectors: Smoke detectors can help stop a fire from spreading any further. In addition, it can alert you when the fire is still small and manageable, so it is easier to put out. However, every kitchen has smoke, which does not always indicate a fire. So consider purchasing photoelectric alarms to avoid false alerts.
• Purchase a fire extinguisher: Fire extinguishers are the primary combatant against a fire break-out and play a big part in home kitchen fire prevention. Thus, most commercial cooking spaces have them, but most household kitchens do not. So consider buying a fire extinguisher and keeping it in or near your kitchen.
• Turn off and unplug appliances: When not in use, turn off and unplug kettles, toasters, and other small kitchen appliances. Double-check that stoves, ovens, and other heavy kitchen appliances are turned off before bed. This practice saves the appliances from overloading electrical components.
• Do not keep cooking unattended: Unattended cooking is another major reason for kitchen fires. Always be careful while cooking, and do not go elsewhere while food is heating in the kitchen. Stay in front of the food and watch over it until it is done, and only after turning off the gas may you leave.
• Keep children and pets out of the kitchen: Neither children nor pets understand what a fire hazard is, so they will not be wary of it. Therefore, the adults are responsible for keeping them out of the kitchen. Adults are supposed to ensure that children always maintain a distance of 3 feet around fire sources, and keep kids and pets away from the stove.
• Wear safety-appropriate clothing: Do not wear anything that is loose, long or may dangle. Try to wear short-sleeved tops, or if you have long-sleeved ones, make sure to roll them up tightly.
• Keep your kitchen clean: It would be best if you kept your kitchen clean and grease-free. Grease, grime and oil build-up on surfaces cause fire to catch easily. Stove and oven spills should be cleaned periodically as well.
• Be aware of your escape routes: Always have an escape route planned. If possible, keep multiple escapes. A fire does not announce its occurrence, so it is always better to be vigilant.

Here are 4 essential things to remember when trying to put out a fire and maintain home kitchen fire safety:

• Turn the heat source off: Under the circumstances, turn off the heat source to stop the rapid spread of fire.
• Smother flames with a lid, cookie sheet, or baking soda: If the fire is small and manageable, use metal lids of utensils, cookie sheets, or baking soda to smother the flames.
• Use fire extinguisher: Having a fire extinguisher handy in cooking environments is always a good idea.
• Call the fire department: As a last resort, call the fire department if the situation gets out of hand.

Now that you know what kitchen fire safety is, you can take precautions and protect yourself and your house in the event of a fire.