Do this to avoid a kitchen fire
Rather worryingly, over 50% of house fires start in the kitchen. This shouldn’t be a surprise really. All those hot fats and gases, high temperatures and pans filled with flammable materials can easily contribute to a combustible atmosphere.
The main problem is people are easily distracted whilst they are cooking. That’s not the only reason fires start in kitchens of course. Other factors contribute to kitchen blazes. To stay safe and avoid becoming the victim of a domestic fire read this basic but life-saving fire safety advice.
What to do to avoid kitchen fires
Never leave pans unattended
Always keep your eyes on pans when they are cooking on the hob. This is especially important if you are cooking with hot oils at high temperatures. Never leave pans unattended even if you only intend to pop out of the room for a few minutes. Stay alert during the cooking process.
Turn handles inwards
When you are cooking on the hob, turn the handles on the pans inwards. Not only will this prevent curious children from reaching up to try to grab the handle it’ll prevent you from accidentally catching the handles with items of clothing and pulling them off the hob.
Keep oven gloves well away from the hob
Take care with tea towels, kitchen roll, oven gloves and other combustible materials. Place them on a worktop, a little too close to the hob and there’s a danger they could ignite. Always keep flammable materials well away from the hob. One push in the wrong direction and they could burst into flames.
Be extra cautious with hot oils
Deep frying food can be dangerous without the necessary safety precautions. Only fill the fryer a third of the way with oil and don’t cook on too high a heat. If the oil starts to smoke it’s a little too hot, turn the heat down and keep watching the fryer at all times.
Avoid metallic containers
Never put a metal container inside a microwave. Avoid putting anything metallic inside your microwave, it’ll spark straight away and could burst into flames. Always check plates, dishes and bowls to see if they are suitable to place inside the oven.
Skip cooking late at night
Cooking late at night should be avoided where possible, especially if you have been out for the night and feel a little worse for wear. Have one too many tipples, start to heat food up on the hob and you could fall asleep creating a genuine fire risk.
Take care whilst cooking in the kitchen and you’ll prevent the risk of a fire. For extra safety, have a domestic sprinkler system fitted and install smoke alarms. Give us a call at Rad Fire if you require further advice.
