The holiday season is a time for travelling to and from, in between and sometimes back again to visit friends and loved ones to celebrate and commemorate the annual festivities. Whether it is because of the smells and activities or the feng shui of the house, people gather in the kitchen. The fellowship and culinary creations centering in the kitchen can sometimes belie the hazards lurking alongside the conviviality. Kitchen fires represent one of the most common reasons every year for residential injury and property damage. In some spans of time, cooking fires are pegged as the leading cause of structural fires, to be more specific, unattended cooking is the main cause of kitchen fires. Why unattended cooking? People are distracted by: conversation with guests, possibly dulled by holiday libations, telephone conversations, social media wasteland drifting, falling asleep, chasing children and likely by other ever-present demands of multi-tasking while in the kitchen preparing food. The cost of this type of fire by inattention has caused an astounding annual monetary toll of around 1.1 billion dollars. Clothing catching on fire happens rarely but when it does occur it has a notable result in fatality. Obviously, wearing draping, flowing flammable fashion should be avoided when working near the range. Age bracket is a factor in the increased likelihood of a kitchen fire as individuals 65 years and older are two-and-a-half times more likely to die in a kitchen fire than those of other ages. The holidays count for increased kitchen fires also, with Thanksgiving in the number one spot for frequency of kitchen fires.
What can be done to minimize or eliminate the hazard of kitchen fires? Separate the heat sources (gas or electric range top, toasters, air fryers, and portable ovens) from flammable materials (dishcloths, knitted appliance covers, kitchen towels, paper towels, and clothing). Respect fire for the havoc it can create if out of control. Pay attention to the task at hand and never leave heat sources unattended. Do not let children play near the heating pots and pans. Know the proper methods of extinguishing grease fires. Never apply water to a grease fire. Never put a towel over the grease fire. If possible, turn off the burner immediately and put a lid on the pot or pan to starve the fire of oxygen. If it is not safe to put the lid on, use a baking sheet to cover the pan. Pour, not sprinkle, salt or baking soda over the grease to put It out. In some cases, grease fires can reignite, causing renewed flareup because of the intense heat so even if the fire is out, it is important to cover the pot or pan after the flames have been doused. EVERYONE should have a fire extinguisher in their kitchen AND know how to use it properly. Most home-use fire extinguishers are rated ABC or BC for grease and electrical fires.
Enjoy the holidays and let the only fire you experience be in the hearth.
