The Basics of Cooking Fire Safety | SERVPRO of Cookeville/Carthage/Smithville/Woodbury

8/7/2023 (Permalink)

Has your kitchen suffered from a fire? SERVPRO of Cookeville/Carthage/Smithville/Woodbury is "Here to Help" get you back to preloss condition.

Have you ever noticed how the kitchen quickly becomes the heart of the home? Even if yours is small, it seems like everyone ends up gathering in the kitchen to chat, snack or share a little dance party. 

The kitchen is also one of the leading locations for home fires. Cooking can lead to a number of disasters, sometimes even resulting in the loss of home or life. Taking the meal prep outdoors can be just as dangerous. 

The good news is that most house fires that result from cooking accidents can be prevented. Get used to making safety a priority while you cook—and keep your home safe. 

Safety Indoors

Even when you hope they don’t, your family and guests you entertain in your home will inevitably end up standing around the stove while you prepare meals or snacks. Take some steps to make your kitchen safe at all times:

Make sure there is a working smoke detector near the kitchen, and never leave a hot stove unattended. Get to know how to extinguish the kinds of fires that might start in the kitchen, including grease fires. 

Keep a fire extinguisher nearby, but never throw water on a grease fire. If something catches on fire in the oven, turn it off and leave the door closed until the flames ease. 

The best way to stay safe is to stay vigilant. Takeout is a better option when you are just too worn-out to get a home-cooked meal on the table. In the same light, if you are home alone with the kiddos, make sure they are somewhere close enough to keep an eye on them and what you are cooking, or opt to cook when they are otherwise supervised. 

Safety Outdoors

Cooking outdoors is a great way to avoid heating up your house on hot days, or just to spend a little time outside. Grill fires are another leading cause of house fires, though, and they are almost always from misuse.

Make sure your grill is in an open space with plenty of distance from any other structures. Like with the stove and oven in the kitchen, never leave a hot grill unattended. 

Teach the kiddos and your four-legged friends how far away to stay while you are cooking. Check gas lines or propane tanks for leaks or loose parts before operating them, and only use approved charcoal and lighter fluids. 

Cooking can be one of the most enjoyable parts of your day. We all have to eat after all! Make your home safe while you cook to avoid potential fires. 

Had a fire in your home and need restoration? Contact us to get things put back together fast!