As cool weather settles in, many of us settle into our kitchen. Many people don’t use their stove or oven much during the summer months. However when the holiday season starts, our appliances barely catch a break. Even if you are comfortable in the kitchen, it is important to recognize stovetop fire safety.
1) Be Present – According to the U.S. Fire Administration, most fires occurred when people left the food unattended in their kitchen. If you are cooking, you should stay in the kitchen. If you are in the kitchen and a fire starts, you have the ability to put it out quickly. You can also oversee what is cooking so you know if something is on the verge of burning or boiling over. Make sure you are aware of who else is present at the stove. Keep children and pets away from the stove by a minimum of three feet.
2) Be Prepared – If you do face a kitchen fire, it is important to understand how to stop it. You can purchase kitchen blankets which are made out of the material that fireman wear to put out the fire. You can now purchase stoves with motion sensors which will turn the stove off if it doesn’t detect motion for a period of time, indicating someone is not at the stove. You can also install residential sprinkler systems, which can put fires out in record time and prevent them from spreading.
3) Be Aware – If a fire starts in your kitchen, do not tell yourself that you can put it out alone if it seems out of hand. Contact local authorities, get yourself and your family out of the house, and let professionals handle it. Cabinets, potholders, and towels are all very flammable and can ignite quickly. Unless the fire is relatively small and contained, do not attempt to put it out.
You don’t need to be afraid to use your stove, you need to understand how to use it properly. If you’re interested in taking precautions against house fires, contact Rich Fire Protection Company for details.
