If You Can’t Stand the Heat, Get Out of the Kitchen Kitchen Fire Danger

 

Americans love their food, and we rely on kitchen equipment and dining establishments to provide us with the cuisines we adore. But when you play with fire, you can get burned; cooking equipment can present a huge danger to us in the form of kitchen fires. In order to stay safe in the event of a kitchen fire (and to help prevent one from occurring), here are some tips and stats you should know:

• More than 8,000 commercial kitchen fires are reported each year. That means that more than 21 kitchen fires occur every day!
• Fire extinguishers are vital pieces of equipment: they accounted for 80% of successfully extinguished fires in a 2,000 incident study. This is one of the many reasons why fire extinguisher inspections should be up-to-date.
• Fire protection, like extinguishers, should be kept no more than 30 feet away from a cooking area. You need to be able to access this equipment quickly and should be trained in how to properly use it.
• If you have a wood-burning or charcoal-burning oven, ashes need to be removed once per day and stored outside (at least 10 feet away from any buildings or flammable materials) in metal containers.
• According to the American Red Cross, you can avoid kitchen fires at home by never leaving food unattended, keeping a close watch on kids in the kitchen, installing a smoke alarm in your kitchen, and checking all appliances before leaving the house.

Restaurant fires cause an average of $246 million in direct property damage each year.

• Fire extinguisher inspections for restaurants should be conducted every six months by a licensed contractor. They also need to be serviced after every use; be sure to inquire about a fire extinguisher recharge. If you are in need of fire extinguisher services, contact your local fire protection agency or equipment retailer.

Whether you’re out at your favorite eatery or cooking a romantic dinner for two in the comfort of your own home, staying aware of your surroundings, taking all possible safety precautions and knowing how to operate emergency equipment like a fire extinguisher will go a long way in keeping you out of harm’s way.