Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars Are Paid Out Because Of Kitchen Fires

5/24/2021 (Permalink)

Do you have a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen?

The kitchen is often the hub of the home where family and friends will gather and spend quality time while meals are prepared. The kitchen is also an area where fire can likely occur. The leading cause of these kitchen fires is unattended cooking.

State Farm, in one year, paid out over $130 million in homeowners insurance claims related to fires caused by grease and other cooking-related causes.

Staying Safe in the Kitchen

Staying in the kitchen while cooking is just one of fire safety tips you should be following. Here are some other helpful tips to observe while cooking:

1. What type of clothing are you wearing? Does your outfit have long, flowing sleeves or is it loose-fitting? It could catch on fire if you aren’t careful while cooking over the stove. It’s best to wear short or close-fitted sleeve shirts and make sure any baggy shirts are tucked in or tied back.

2. What type of items are near the stovetop? Make sure you don’t have kitchen towels, oven mitts, appliance cords or even curtains too close to the stovetop when cooking. Ideally, anything flammable will be moved away from it.

3. Do you have a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen? We hope that there is at least one fire extinguisher located in your home, ideally one that is near your kitchen. Make sure you know how to properly use the extinguisher, just in case it is ever needed.

4. How are you disposing of hot grease? While the grease may not be on fire, it could be hot enough to cause something in the trash to burn. You should let the grease cool a bit and then dispose of it in an old coffee can. Also, know the smoke points of the oils you cook with. Be sure to never subject a low-smoke point oil to high heat when cooking, as it could catch fire.

5. Do you have an established fire escape plan? Thinking about the worst-case scenario is never fun, but it’s better to be prepared rather than unprepared if an emergency were to occur. Go over exit routes and designated meeting points with your family, making sure that everyone knows what to do.

After The Fire

SERVPRO of East Bradenton/Lakewood Ranch specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke 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.

Fire safety in the kitchen is an absolute necessity, as it can help prevent dangerous and destructive cooking fires. If your home has experienced damage from a cooking fire, know that SERVPRO of East Bradenton/Lakewood Ranch is here to make it “Like it never even happened.”
If you have fire or water damage give us a call today (941) 727-2333.