Cooking Fires: Both Inside or Outside The Home

For more than 300,000 years, humans have controlled fire to stay warm, cook food, ward off predators and venture into harsh climates. Even with all that practice, we still have many disasters due to a LACK of fire control. According to a report by the National Fire Protection Association (NAPA), American fire departments responded to an average of 466 home cooking fires per day.

Here are some facts and some tips for cooking and staying safe:

In The Kitchen

Cooking equipment was the leading cause of home structure fires and civilian fire injuries. To put that into perspective, fire departments responded to an estimated average of 170,200 home structure fires that involved cooking equipment per year; almost half of them were caused by cooking.

Ranges and cooktops accounted for the majority (62%) of home cooking fire incidents and an even larger share of civilian deaths and injuries. Electric ranges have a higher risk of fire and associated losses than gas ranges. Other cooking devices like toaster ovens, microwaves and hotplates can also malfunction and cause trouble.

You won’t be surprised to learn that Thanksgiving was the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by the day before Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, Easter, and then Christmas Eve.

Out On The Patio

However, moving outdoors does not remove the risk. Almost 10,000 emergency calls involve grills, hibachis, or barbecues. Five out of six grills involved in home fires were propane gas and about 15% used charcoal or other solid fuel.

Not only can outdoor structures such as decks and patios be damaged, but the fire can spread to trees and even back to the house. Outdoor grilling is also very tied to the calendar- July is the peak of the summer months for outdoor grill fires.

Stay Safe

Burned burgers are bad enough but home fire injuries can be very dangerous. Remember the basics in your kitchen. Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop. More than half (55%) of reported non-fatal home cooking fire injuries occurred when the victims tried to fight the fire themselves. Children under age 5 accounted for one-third of the contact-type burns.

• Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or stovetop.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling food.
• If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, either remain in the kitchen while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.

If you have a cooking fire– just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire and then call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after you leave.

• If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out.
• Keep a lid nearby when you’re cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.

Expert Fire Damage Repair

Restore Rite is located in Blackfoot, Idaho and is certified and experienced in high-quality restoration in the clients’ time of need. The team is educated, trained, and experienced in the most effective techniques to successfully remove soot, smoke stains, and other remnants of a fire. Whether indoors or outside, the will use proper equipment and cleaning materials to safely clean any type of surface. Not only does Restore Rite utilize industry best tools and equipment for fire damage restoration, they also take special care to make sure your property is safe and secure during the restoration process. Get an expert assessment of the amount of damage and then create a plan of action to restore the property as quickly and efficiently as possible. Call (208) 782-4030 for help in Blackfoot, Idaho.