Did I leave the oven on? You better double check!

8/13/2018 (Permalink)

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Don’t forget to turn off that oven!

According to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency), between the years of 2011-2015, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 170,200 house fires each year involving cooking equipment.

In the study, the NFPA outlined that “Cooking equipment was the leading cause of home structure fires and civilian fire injuries and the second leading cause of home fire deaths,” and accounts for over 47% of all reported home fires.

Timewise, most cooking fires occur during the holiday season between November and December, however, the risk is always there. Be cautious, and aware of all cooking equipment.

Here are some tips:

1. If there is a fire in the oven, shut it off, and do not open the door. By opening the door oxygen is now free to feed the fire, which does not solve the problem. Keep the door shut, and the lack of oxygen will eventually cause the fire to die out.
2. Do not leave dirty pans on the stove, anyone, especially children, can walk by and accidentally bump the knob and thus turning on the oven.
3. Do not pour water on a grease fire! The water will sink to the bottom, and steam will make the flames rise higher. Use a fire extinguisher. In addition, 55% of non-fatal home cooking fire injuries occurs when the victim tries to fight the fire themselves!

Enjoy your meal, but please be careful of the dangers of cooking equipment. But if the unthinkable happens, don’t be afraid to call SERVPRO of Benton County, we will make it “Like it never even happened.”