A few extra steps can prevent a kitchen tragedy

MOSES LAKE — One of the most dangerous things you can do at home is also something most people do every day. 

“If you look at the statistics, cooking is the leading cause of home fires,” said Travis Svilar, battalion chief with Grant County Fire District 5. 

The data from the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office bears that out. Last year, Washington fire agencies responded to more than 700 structure fires that had started in the kitchen. 

The biggest factor is just not paying attention. Unattended cooking equipment was a factor in 29% of kitchen fires nationwide last year, according to the National Fire Protection Association, and half of the associated deaths at a national level.

“Never, never leave cooking unattended,” Svilar said. “Keep a lid nearby. You can use the lid for quick smothering of small grease fires.” 

Keeping the stovetop clean is another important factor. Built-up grease on the stove can catch fire almost as easily as grease in a pan, and so can any other flammable materials nearby. The Fire Marshal’s office recommends keeping all flammable materials away from stovetops and other heat sources. 

“Check your stovetop before leaving,” Svilar said. “We've had people leave the house and forget about (it). ‘I was cooking before I left; did I shut the stove off?’ Nope, you didn't.” 

Fires that start on the stove don’t necessarily stay there, Svilar warned. 

“Your kitchen is usually a big room in our house, and right at the center,” he said. “And usually, what is beside your stove? Cabinets. And what are cabinets normally made of? Wood. What does fire like to burn? Wood.” 

The state fire marshal recommends taking these steps as well: 

• Ensure your home is equipped with functional smoke alarms.  

• Maintain a fire extinguisher in an accessible location and be familiar with its operation.  

• Avoid wearing loose clothing near open flames or hot surfaces.

• Establish a safety zone away from the cooking area to keep children and pets out of harm’s way.  

• Never place aluminum foil or metal objects in a microwave.  

• If a fire cannot be extinguished safely, evacuate immediately and contact emergency services by calling 911. 

“Doing all those things not only minimizes our response, but it also minimizes damage to a person's home and/or eliminates injuries in your household by just taking a few extra steps when you're when you're at home cooking,” Svilar said. “The problem is that cooking becomes second nature. Cooking is a routine activity, and it is easy to forget that you're dealing with high temperatures. You do it every day, day in and day out, and you start forgetting things.” 

For more cooking safety tips, visit https://bit.ly/nfpacookingsafety.