Contrary to many people’s beliefs, there is one room in your home where the surface regularly reaches scalding temperatures and open flames are left burning for a long period of time, and this room is called your kitchen. Of course, cooking is essential to the well-being of you and your family, but operating ovens and lit burners can sometimes result in fatal home fires if you do not make sure that you follow safety precautions and know about fire prevention in the home.
So what is it that you, yourself, can do to make your kitchen as safe as possible considering the circumstances? Here are some tips to help you create an effective fire-proof area:
First off, you should ALWAYS keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. This may seem like common sense to most people, but some are too busy thinking of other things to remember to keep one in the kitchen. Fires do not put themselves out, and sometimes putting water on the flames can fan them instead of put them out. Hanging a fire extinguisher in your kitchen can make the difference between smothering a cooking disaster before any damage occurs and a home that has been completely and irrevocably damaged by flames. Also, be sure to thoroughly read the instructions on your fire extinguisher so you know exactly how to use it in the event that danger occurs.
Keep an eye on your clothing. If your sleeves are long and flowy, or you like to wear loose fitting clothing or aprons, keep in mind that anything that is loose enough to brush against an open flame is a definite fire hazard. Also, you should highly consider tying back any loose-fitting clothing with an apron when cooking, or opt for short or a more fitted style of sleeved tops when cooking.
De-cluttering the countertops near your stove is a very smart move. Even if your clothes aren’t necessarily a fire-threat, any rags or potholders kept near an open flame can be. Clear away any items from your countertops prior to cooking, and use an oven mitt rather than a dangling towel to remove pots and pans from an open flame.
Check out local fire damage disaster contractors that are available 24/7 if you have recently sustained fire damage to your property.
It is imperative to always watch your food while it is cooking. The majority of fires in the home occur because people leave their stoves unattended. If you are cooking something, you should stay in the kitchen and keep a close eye on any simmering, boiling, or frying items.
Next on the list is to make sure that your smoke detector is in good working order. Most people already have a smoke detector in the kitchen or in the next room, however, this highly-effective fire alert will not work if its batteries have died. You can prevent out of control flames from taking you by surprise if you have changed your smoke detector batteries every six months, which will assure you that your device is in proper operation. Fires in your kitchen and home are completely preventable, and you should consider the above steps when going about your daily routine.
