Ask anyone who has ever gone through a kitchen fire, and they do will tell you that it is an extremely traumatic experience. Moreover, they will also tell you that it was completely unexpected. Indeed, no one starts cooking for their family thinking, “I’m about to have a kitchen fire that will destroy my wall or most of my kitchen.” However, it does happen. Thankfully, with a little bit of advance planning and some organization, there are a number of things you can do in order to guard against this happening to you.
Watch Out for Grease
Grease is very flammable, and it is a fire that can happen fairly quickly. The good news is that grease fires can be smothered fairly quickly as long as you know what you are doing. Obviously, throwing water on a grease fire is a big no-no. Instead, you should immediately turn off the heat source, and then quell the fire with a large lid.
Invest in Fire-Retardant Materials
One of the best ways to avoid or to minimize a fire would be through surrounding yourself with fire-retardant materials. One example of a substance that resists burning is the roof of your home. For example, homes with metal roofs tend to fare better against fires than homes with more conventional roofs. Moreover, simply using fire-resistant cookware will go a long way to keeping flames from spreading throughout your kitchen and then your home.
Don’t Leave Your Heat Source
When you begin cooking your meal, it can be tempting to go and briefly check your ball game or to watch the last part of your favorite television show. Don’t do it! About 10% of homes were estimated to have experienced kitchen fires. Leaving your stove unattended for even five minutes can easily have a fire on your hands that could spark travel literally anywhere.
Keep Certain Items Away From the Stove
You might be surprised at just what is considered flammable, so you should do your best to make sure that everything is kept away from the burners on the stove. Items like paper towels, dish towels, potholders, and other combustibles could easily cause a house fire. Kitchen fires are an unfortunate incident in many households. However, if you follow these tips, you will significantly decrease your chances of falling prone to these terrible kitchen fires. Safety counts in the kitchen!
Many people who are worried about kitchen fires choose to use electric range tops, but if you want something different, Milcarsky’s Appliance Center has many other options as well!