If you asked me what the biggest cause of house fires was I would have confidently said candles without any hesitation. It makes sense: an open flame, wax melting, people leaving them burning unattended. A classic fire hazard and as someone who loves a good scented candle, I have one for every season. I’ve always been super careful about where I place them. No candles near curtains, no burning overnight, and always blowing them out before leaving the room.
So imagine my shock when I Googled the leading cause of house fires and learned that it isn’t candles, it’s cooking appliances! Yep, right there in my own kitchen where I potter about making endless cups of tea and occasionally burn things is actually the biggest danger zone!
So since I’m now armed with this alarming knowledge, I thought I’d share some kitchen fire safety tips!!
Never leave cooking unattended!
We’ve all been there you put something on cooking and think, I’ll just pop into the other room for a second. Next thing you know, you’re deep in a social media rabbit hole and the only thing reminding you that you were cooking is the smell of something burning. I have done this so many times and go running in such a panic! Fires can start so quickly especially with oil or unattended boiling pots. If you need to step away, turn the heat off first!
Keep anything flammable away from flames!
Tea towels, oven gloves, wooden utensils or even that pile of post you haven’t sorted yet none of it should be anywhere near the hob. One stray spark or a gas flame catching the edge of a cloth and you’ve got a problem. I stopped using tea towels to pick up pans when I had a scare and one caught on fire, now I use oven gloves but keep them away from the flames.
Beware of hot oil!
If you’re cooking with oil, keep a close eye on it. Never throw water on a grease fire it’ll make it worse and could cause flames to spread rapidly. Instead turn off the heat and smother the flames with a metal lid, baking tray or a damp cloth.
Don’t store things in the oven!
I used to be guilty of this one. Storing baking trays and pans in the oven seems harmless until you forget they’re in there and preheat the oven with something melt-able inside. Fire hazard alert!
Check your appliances!
Old or dodgy appliances are a sneaky fire risk. That ancient toaster that smells suspiciously of burnt crumbs? Time to clean it out or replace it altogether. Frayed wires and overloaded sockets in the kitchen are also major hazards so it’s worth doing a quick check now and then. Also make sure you are up to date with your gas safety checks if you have a gas cooker!
Have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen!
Not all fire extinguishers are the same! For the kitchen, you need a dry chemical extinguisher which works on electrical and grease fires. If a fire does break out, you’ll be glad you have it nearby.
Test your smoke alarms!
This one seems obvious, but when was the last time you actually tested yours? They should be installed near but not directly in the kitchen and checked regularly. If yours has a habit of going off every time you make toast don’t just take the battery out, move the alarm or improve ventilation instead.
Have a fire escape plan!
This might sound dramatic but in an emergency, knowing what to do matters. Make sure everyone in your home knows how to get out quickly and where to meet outside. It’s one of those things you hope you’ll never need but if you do, it could save lives.
While I’ll still be careful with my candles, I’m not giving those up, I’ll now be cautious in the kitchen. A few small changes can make a big difference and if it means I never have to call the fire brigade because I set fire to my dinner, I’m all for it!
Have you ever had a kitchen fire?
Good tips! I think I may have had a very small fire once in the kitchen? It isn't burned (pardon the pun) into my memory so it couldn't have been super big.
ReplyDeleteAll good advice and I didn't find it that surprising. We used to have an old fashioned chip fryer - the sort with a pan for the oil and then a basket for the chips. I overfilled the pan once and when I put the chips in it overflowed and caught alight. That was scary but I knew enough to turn off the gas and put a lid over the pan so it didn't spread or cause any real damage. However once the pan was cool enough the whole thing went in the dustbin!
ReplyDeleteWe change our smoke detector batteries every time we move the clocks. Baking soda works great for smothering oil fires too.. as long as the fire isn't bigger than the box of baking soda.
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