Fire Safety in the Kitchen

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Did you know that almost half of all residential fires start in the kitchen? That’s why as part of our ongoing home security educational series for Fire Prevention Month, we turn our attention to kitchen fires and how you can prevent them:

Never Leave Food Unattended on the Stove

All it takes is a few seconds for hot oil from a pan to splatter and hit a curtain or dish towel before you have a dangerous kitchen fire on your hands. Never step away from food that’s cooking on the stove. If you are baking something in the oven, check on it periodically and never leave your home with the oven on.

Keep Your Stove and Oven Clean

Built-up grease and food debris are highly flammable. Get into the habit of wiping down your cooktop after every meal (once it cools down) and clean your oven on a regular basis as well. Wipe away spills as you notice them instead of allowing them to accumulate.

Keep Flammable Items Away from Stove

Dish towels, cloth pot holders and other cloth items can easily catch on fire. Instead of storing these items right by the stove, keep them in a drawer or on hooks in another part of your kitchen.

Keep a Working Smoke Detector and Fire Extinguisher on Hand

It’s important to have a smoke detector near but not inside the kitchen. This is important for avoiding those false alarms every time the kitchen gets slightly smoky or too hot from the oven. Experts recommend that you place a smoke detector approximately 10 feet away from the stove, which normally means placing it in the dining room or hallway.

In addition, you should have a working fire extinguisher stored safely in the kitchen. Be sure to read the manual and even watch YouTube videos to make sure you know how to use it correctly if you ever need it.

To learn more about how ProTec’s integrated fire and security systems can fully protect your home, contact us today.