Accidental fires are scary, and kitchens are a particularly common place for home fires to get started. Here are three common causes of fires in one of the most used rooms of our homes.
What Are the Three Common Causes of Kitchen Fires?
Being aware of the causes of kitchen fires will help you be proactive in preventing them. Here are the top three causes of home kitchen fires.
- Leaving cooking food unattended. Unattended cooking equipment is a factor in one-third of home cooking fires, based on 2014-2018 averages.
- Grease or food catching on fire. Grease fires burn hot and spread quickly. They are especially likely when cooking something like bacon, or when using dirty pots, pans, or baking sheets.
- Leaving combustible materials too close to heat sources. If an oven mitt, dish towel, clothing, or other combustible material gets too close to a burner or other heat source, it can catch on fire.
How Can I Prevent Kitchen Fires?
Luckily, there are some easy ways you can prevent kitchen fires.
- Grease fires are especially dangerous, but you can prevent home damage and injuries with some simple tips. If grease catches on fire, try to remove the pan from the heat and cover the pan with a non-combustible object, like a lid or baking sheet. Never throw water on a grease fire!
- Be careful to keep cloth and paper items away from your workstation while cooking.
- Most of all, be alert when cooking. Check your food regularly, and turn pot handles inwards so they can’t be pulled by pets or children.
When Should I Call a Professional?
If you’ve already suffered fire damage from a kitchen fire, it’s time to call in a professional to clean up. Fires can be dangerous even after the fire itself is put out. The building could be unstable or the fire could have exposed electrical lines. On top of that, toxic gases can be present in the aftermath of a fire. Because of the many potential hazards involved with reentering a building after a fire, even a small one, you should call a fire restoration service to help after any kitchen fire.
Green Restoration Can Take the Heat
At Green Restoration, we can help you get life back to normal after a kitchen fire. We specialize in safe, environmentally-friendly cleaning products to get your kitchen clean and safe for you to use. We also work with your homeowner’s insurance policy, which may cover some of the costs. Contact us today and let us help you get cooking again!