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Tips for Preventing Kitchen Fires This Holiday Season | SERVPRO of Alamo Heights
11/16/2023 (Permalink)
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Happy holidays to our wonderful Alamo Heights community! We hope you are getting ready to celebrate another beautiful season with your friends and family. However you celebrate and whichever holidays you observe, we bet you make some pretty delicious food for each occasion.
Whether you are a professional at making pumpkin pie or your relatives always request your famous mashed potatoes, chances are that you are spending more time in the kitchen at this time of year.
The number of house fires increases during the fall and winter months, especially those that start in the kitchen. Read on to learn some helpful fire prevention strategies so you can stay safe while you are whipping up your food.
Preparing your space is the first thing you should always do, as a cluttered space can be dangerous. Remove clutter from the floor and the counters, and make your kitchen a kid- and pet-free zone while you have things in the oven or on the stove.
You should also limit the amount of flammable materials near your burners. Keep pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils and holiday decorations far away from the flames and heat. Even a single pop of a grease bubble or spark from your stove can lead to disaster.
In addition to reducing flammable materials in your kitchen, you should also be careful to dress appropriately. Loose sleeves, long apron strings or other draped clothing items can easily catch on fire and lead to a serious situation. Roll up your sleeves and choose your outfit wisely.
Most kitchen fires start when the person in charge of the cooking isn’t paying attention or isn’t in the room when the incident occurs. All it takes is a few seconds for an accident or the unexpected to happen and your entire kitchen could be in flames. Stay in the kitchen while you are cooking or when something is in the oven.
If you are going to attempt deep-frying a turkey this year, please use extreme caution! Choose a flat, non-flammable surface to set up your fryer and be sure it is far away from your house and garage.
Fill it with only the oil you need, and be sure your turkey is completely thawed before dropping it into the fryer. A partially frozen turkey and oil can be an unpredictable combination.
While house fires aren’t completely preventable, doing what you can to reduce your risk can go a long way toward keeping you safe. You should also make sure your protective measures are in place and ready to use. Check the batteries in your smoke detectors monthly and replace them as needed.
You should also locate your fire extinguisher and consider keeping it in your kitchen in an easily accessible location. Having it close by can help you control a situation before it gets out of control.
House fires can happen in the blink of an eye. Contact us for a quick restoration day or night!