Here are some statistics from the National Fire Protection Association for the year of 2006.

• Between 1999-2002, there were 114,000 reported home fires associated with cooking equipment every year, resulting in an annual 290 deaths and 4,380 injuries.
• Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires.
• Three in 10 reported home fires start in the kitchen — more than any other place in the home.
• Two out of three reported home cooking fires start with the range or stove.
• Electric ranges or stoves have a higher risk of fires, injuries and property damage, compared to gas ranges or stoves, but gas ranges or stoves have a higher risk of fire deaths.

In the 20 years that I have been a firefighter, I have come across a lot of kitchen fires that could have been prevented with a little knowledge about safety in the kitchen. I hope that these tips will provide some useful information to you.

Never leave oil on the stove unattended.

Leaving cooking oil on the range top while you are not in the kitchen area is a leading cause of kitchen fires. Let’s say that you are heating the oil to make those wonderfully crisp french fries that you love. It only takes a few seconds for the oil to overheat, begin boiling out and now you have a fire.

If a small fire develops in a pot or pan, cover it with a lid, turn off the cooking element or burner and let it cool. If you don’t have lid handy, then you can use baking soda also.

Turn in those handles.

If you have pots or pans on the range top, be sure to turn the handles inward, and away from pointing into the open area of the kitchen. Not only can this help prevent little ones from grabbing a hot pot of water and dumping it on them, but it can also prevent someone from accidentally bumping a pot or pan and causing it to spill over.

Keep it clean.

Keeping your oven area and stove top clean are vital aspects of preventing a fire. Grease and other food buildup can eventually cause a fire from the residues that are left over time. Use the self-cleaning feature on your oven if it needs, and a good wipedown on the surface won’t hurt either.

Keep the door closed.

In the previous point I advised to use the self cleaning feature of your stove when the need arises. This can lead to another potential fire problem. If there is a substantial buildup in your stove, clean out the bigger “chunks” of food particles prior to using the self cleaning feature.

This will prevent heating the larger “chunks” to the point where they could catch fire. If there is a fire in the oven, do not attempt to open the door and exit the area. The safest bet is to call your local fire department and have them check it for you.

Have a few safety items in your home.

There are three things that I recommend you have to improve your fire safety in the kitchen and your home in general.

• Get a fire extinguisher. You don’t need a huge one, a 5 or 10 pound extinguisher can be picked up at your local home goods store, such as Wal-mart, Home Depot or other shopping places.
• Have and test your smoke detectors. Just having a smoke detector doesn’t do any good if you don’t test it regularly. Smoke detectors should be tested at least monthly to ensure proper operation. Be sure to change the batteries also. A good reminder of this is when you spring forward or fall back with your time change, you should also change the batteries.
• Have a carbon monoxide detector. If you home uses any gas appliances, such as a furnace, water heater or cooking appliances, you should have a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon Monoxide is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas that is produced when using fossil fuels such as propane or natural gas. This could prevent you from being a statistic to a silent killer.

In conclusion

This is not an all inclusive list by any means for issues relating to kitchen fire safety. There are many aspects that go into being safe while cooking in the kitchen. I only hope that one person learns something new by reading this article, and if it prevents a fire and subsequent damage, then I am happy with that.

If you have any fire safety questions, contact your local fire department and ask for some guidance. They should be more than happy to help you out!

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Some Statistics First

These statistics for 2006 are the most up to date that I could find. These apply to the United States and Canada, and I’m not sure about statistics for fires in Europe or other parts of the world. Fire Safety is one area that most people don’t think about until it’s too late. Being prepared for the unexpected event of a fire in your home could save your life, and the lives of your loved ones.

• In 2006, U.S. fire departments responded to 396,000 home fires. These fires caused 2,580 civilian deaths, 12,500 civilian injuries and $6.8 billion in direct damage.
• On average, every three hours someone in the U.S. dies in a home fire. In Canada, someone is fatally injured in a residential fire roughly every 32 hours.
• Most fatal fires kill one or two people. In 2005, 13 home fires killed five or more people. These 13 fires resulted in 80 deaths.
• Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home fire injuries.
• More than half of all home fire deaths result from incidents reported between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. But only twenty percent of home fires occur between those hours.
• Although children five and under make up about 7% of the country’s population, they accounted for 12% of the home fire deaths, assigning them a risk almost twice that of an average person.
• Older adults are also at greater risk of dying in a home fire than the population at large. Adults 65 and older face a risk twice the average person, while people 85 and older have a risk that is a little over four times that of the average person.
• December and January were the peak months for reported home fires and home fire deaths.
• Home fires, fire deaths and fire injuries are more common on Saturday and Sunday.

Statistics from the National Fire Protection Association site.

Some General Tips for Fire Safety

There are several different primary causes for home fires, some of which include cooking, candles, and electrical item misuse. Here are some general and basic tips for each category, and you can always find more information through the National Fire Protection Association website.

• Cooking safety
  • Frying food on the stove or rangetop is the most common leading cause of kitchen fires.
  • Don’t leave food unattended on the stove or rangetop and be sure that the elements are cool prior to placing anything on it.
  • Gas stoves and ranges also pose a risk of Carbon Monoxide death. You should have a Carbon Monoxide detector in your home if you have any gas appliances.
• Candle safety
  • Make sure that candles are kept away from other combustible materials, such as draperies and furniture.
  • Never leave a candle burning while you are not in the room, or at home
  • If placing a candle on a combustible surface, such as a table, make sure that there is a non-combustible item underneath it, such as a plate or other non-combustible item to limit heat transfer.
• Electrical safety
  • Extension cords are a leading cause of electrical fires. Knowing the amperage rating on your extension cord will ensure proper usage.
  • Surge protectors are good if used properly. Don’t overload a surge protector with air conditioners, refridgerators, or other appliances that draw heavy amperage.
  • Pluging one surge protector into another defeats the surge protection features and will overheat the surge protectors, possibly causing catastrophic failure and fires.
  • If you are using extension cords, don’t run them under rugs or carpet, through a doorway, or allow them to become pinched or crushed. This will cause a failure and resulting fire from the electrical short that occurs.

Knowing what to do if a fire occurs ahead of time can, and will save your life. Being prepared is easy and just takes a few minutes. One of the best methods is to have a home evacuation escape plan in place, and practice it routinely with your family. Find a safe place to gather outside of the residence and never go back in to a home on fire once you have exited.

Some other resources

Here are a few other great sources of information about developing a fire safe home. Also, if you have further questions, or are looking for further information, just ask your local fire department to assist you.

• Home Fire Safety Checklist
• Home Safety Council Fire Prevention Tips
• Home Fire Safety Checklist for kids (.pdf)

In conclusion

I hope some of the tips and information have offered an insight into Fire Safety for you. Just remember that fire safety is everyones business, and being prepared will help in case of an actual emergency.

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