Preventing Holiday Cooking Fires

6/29/2018 (Permalink)

In Wright County, mold can spread through a home in as little as 48 hours.

It’s that time of year again when we start getting creative in the kitchen, cooking up mouthwatering dishes for all your friends and family. It’s also the time of year when kitchen fires happen the most for Richland Hills, TX

Per Greene Publishing, INC. about 3,500 Americans die each year in fires and about 18,300 are injured. Many of them might be alive today if they had only learned what to do if there is a fire.

Below are a few tips on what you can do to prevent fires from happening or spreading.

1. Never leave cooking food unattended. Unattended cooking fires occur when a person starts cooking food on the stove and then leaves the kitchen and does not pay attention to the food. A fire can occur quickly when food is left unattended. Watch what you heat: When frying, grilling or broiling and stay in the kitchen while the food is cooking. Turn off the stove if leaving the kitchen, even for a short time.
2. Always keep anything that can catch fire away from the stove or appliances. When cooking try to wear clothing with sleeves that are short, close fitting or tightly rolled up. For clothing fires remember: STOP, DROP AND ROLL.
3. Always know what to do if you have a cooking fire: When in doubt, get out of the residence and close the door to contain the fire. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after leaving the house or apartment. Keep oven mitt and lid that fits the pan nearby. NEVER USE WATER ON A GREASE FIRE! Wear an oven mitt and smother the fire by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner and do not move the pan.
4. Always keep kids away from cooking area: Create a “kid-free zone” of three feet from the stove or appliance.
5. Place objects so they cannot be pulled or knocked over. Turn pot handles away from the stove’s edge. Open microwaved food slowly, away from the face to avoid scald burns.
6. Make sure that you have working fire alarms: Prevent nuisance alarms during cooking by not installing smoke alarms in the kitchen. Do not disable your smoke alarm or take out the batteries.

Following the tips listed above can help prevent a kitchen fire or trip to the emergency!

About SERVPRO of North Richland Hills

SERVPRO of North Richland Hills specializes in the cleanup and restoration of commercial and residential property after a fire or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Call SERVPRO of North Richland Hills at 817-589-1499.