House fires can be really devastating as they usually really in loss of properties, important documents, bodily injuries, and even death. This is why it is important to put measures in place to prevent sparks, gas leakage, and fire outbreaks in the home. One of the crucial parts of the home to pay attention to when it comes to fire prevention in the kitchen. This is because of naked fire that you often employed in cooking, as well as cooking appliances that function using heat. It is therefore essential to set up effective techniques to prevent your home from kitchen fires. Below are some tips to avoid kitchen fires in the home.
Five Tips for Preventing Kitchen Fires
These are five helpful tips that will keep your kitchen and home safe from fire.
- Keep Your Equipment Clean and Safe: Leaving your cooking equipment dirty with grease and crumbs is a fire hazard that you should avoid. Always ensure to clean out the oils, grease, and crumbs from your ovens, microwaves, and other cooking appliances after using them. This way, they will be in perfect condition by the next time when their usage is required. Carry out a deep cleaning on this equipment at least once a week, making sure to look out for faulty buttons and frayed wires.
- Set Up Fire Detection Systems: With automatic fire detection systems, you will be alerted to any risk before a fire outbreak. For this purpose, you need a smoke detector as well as fire alarm systems. Ensure to check them regularly to be sure that they are in good working condition. Also, do not forget to change the batteries of your smoke detectors regularly.
- Do Not Leave Your Kitchen Unattended: One of the biggest causes of kitchen fires is lack of supervision. When you leave your kitchen unattended while cooking, you run the risk of something going wrong without your knowledge. It is therefore best to stay in the kitchen all through the period of your cooking exercise. Frying and grilling are two cooking exercises that require your undivided attention. For activities like baking or roasting, you can use a timer to keep track of the cooking time in case you need to leave the kitchen.
- Avoid Overloading Your Outlets: Overloading your electrical outlets comes with the risk of an electric fire. Avoid plugging all your kitchen appliances in one outlet, by making sure to space them out. In addition, always ensure to check your kitchen appliances for faulty plugs and bare wires. You should also keep flammable items away from hot surfaces. Hand towels, aprons as well as wooden utensils should be put in their place when not in use.
- Fire Extinguisher: As a rule of thumb, always have a fire extinguisher nearby. Make sure that the fire extinguisher is a good distance from fire hazards, but close enough for you to reach it when needed.
Conclusion
Always keep children out of the kitchen and ensure to avoid flowing clothes while cooking.