A common reoccurring theme in my blogs will be the hazards of cooking. Many common household fires begin in the kitchen. In fact, unattended cooking is the #1 cause of residential fires. We read about it in the newspapers everyday:
- A 10 month old in North Carolina dies due to a careless grease fire.
-An elderly woman died when combustibles were placed too close to the stove.
Too many times someone will come home after a long day at work or after a late night out and decide to cook something and fall asleep with something on the stove. This carelessness could easily be avoided.
Here are some safety tips to keep in mind while cooking:
- You must always be alert when cooking.
- You should never leave the kitchen when frying grilling, or broiling.
- All combustibles must be kept a safe distance from the stove.
- Never try to move the burning object if there is a stovetop fire.
One final point: Do you know how to safely extinguish a stove top fire? Do you know what can be used and what should not be used? For the answer to these questions and many more, refer to our residential fire safety program. Also make sure to read my safety tips.
Merry Christmas.
Terry Flanagan – NIFAST Director of Education and Training
