Top Causes of Kitchen Fires

10/1/2021 (Permalink)

According to recent statics, US fire departments responded to an average of 172,900 home structure fires a year that started in the kitchen. These fires caused 550 deaths and more than 1 billion in direct property damage. The overwhelming majority were due to cooking activities. Two of every five home fires start in the kitchen. So, what are the most common causes of a kitchen fire?

• Unattended Cooking. Unattended cooking is by far the most common reason for a kitchen fire. Talking away for only a few seconds could have disastrous consequences.
• Placing constable materials too close to a heat source. Your kitchen is full of flammable materials. It is essential to keep these items away from your stove. A few seconds is all it takes for a fire to start.
• Frying with oil. Never step away from your stove while frying with oil. Two-Thirds of kitchen fires occur after cooking with oil or butter. Cooking at a higher temperature can ignite to oil.
• Cooking While Tired or Impaired. Cooking while tired or impaired is dangerous because your cognitive abilities are lessened. It is estimated nearly 23% of kitchen fires happened because someone fell asleep.

So What Should You Do If You Have A Kitchen Fire?

First, call 911 immediately if you cannot control the fire, get your family and pets to safety. After the first responders have extinguished the fire, call the experts at SERVPRO of Lexington/Thomasville at (336) 224-2565. We can secure your property and begin the restoration process. Our team of IICRC certified technicians has extensive experience in getting your property back to preloss condition.

At SERVPRO, we’re here to help.