Tips for Staying Safe in Kitchen This Winter and Beyond | SERVPRO® of Kingston/New Paltz

1/25/2022 (Permalink)

Just a little kitchen fire prevention can help avoid a very dangerous scenario!

House fires are more common during the winter months in the Hudson Valley than they are at any other time during the year. And one of the main reasons fire damage happens in homes this time of year involves accidents in the kitchen.

Many families are cooking large meals to entertain guests or uphold long-held traditions from Thanksgiving through the New Year. But even after the holidays are over, many families spend more time cooking and baking on dark, cold winter nights. Crock pots cooking all day, air fryers making quick work of things, big pots of soup simmering, and Instapots full of chili are wonderful, but any appliance has its risk.

Preventing Kitchen Fires

You can take steps to lower your risk for a kitchen fire if you follow some essential kitchen safety tips. By implementing these simple steps, you can significantly reduce your risk for a kitchen fire—and the resulting fire damage.

Don’t leave your oven and stove unattended. It’s tempting to leave a pot to simmer or a cake to bake for as long as it needs and leave the room. Unfortunately, not regularly checking the progress of a meal is a fire risk. Pots and pans that are left to boil over can cause accidents, grease fires, and it’s possible to miss an oven fire if you don’t check how things are cooking.

Additionally, if you’re one who loves a great candle in the kitchen, keep it far from any grease, wood-based areas and recipe books. As always, never leave a candle unattended. Even better, set an alarm on your phone to check the candle and make sure it’s extinguished properly.

Learn what to do if a small kitchen fire starts. For example, it’s best to cover a grease fire— don’t throw water on it. In general, don’t pull a pot or pan that’s flaming directly off the stove, because those flames can jump. Instead, it’s smart to cover or smother the fires. Keeping pot lids nearby, a fire extinguisher or baking soda can help you extinguish small kitchen fires fast. Never keep your kitchen towels or oven mitts anywhere near the stove or oven when cooking, flames can easily get to those and create an even bigger danger.

Be careful with your clothes. In general, don’t cook meals while wearing a top with flowing sleeves. If these drag through a flame, they can start a fire and severely injure you. Opt for something fitted instead. Aprons are great for saving your clothing from spatters, but they can’t do anything for billowy sleeves, best to go with a shirt that isn’t loose or flowy.

If you have fire damage in your home due to a kitchen fire or any other cause, you can count on SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz for an emergency response 24/7.