Kitchen fires are a common occurrence in the United States. According to the National Fire Protection Association, there were an estimated average of 166,100 structure fires related to cooking equipment each year in the U.S. from 2012-2016. That’s an average of 459 per day!
Cooking is the leading cause of home fire injuries, and two-thirds of home fire deaths result from fires that start in the kitchen.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, kitchen fires are the number one cause of home fires and home fire injuries. In fact, one out of every five home fires starts in the kitchen.
The most common cause of kitchen fires is unattended cooking.
It’s important to never leave your food unattended while cooking, even for a minute. If you have to leave the room for any reason, turn off the stove or oven.
Other causes of kitchen fires include grease and oil build-up on stovetops andRange hoods can help stop grease fires from starting in your kitchen.
Grease should be cleaned off regularly to prevent a fire from starting.
Keep flammable items like potholders, dishtowels, and paper towels away from your stovetop while cooking. And be sure to have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen in case of an emergency.
What is the Most Common Cause of Kitchen Fires?
The most common cause of kitchen fires is unattended cooking. According to the National Fire Protection Association, two-thirds of all home fires start in the kitchen, and half of those are caused by cooking that is left unattended.
Other common causes of kitchen fires include grease and electrical problems.
Grease fires are usually caused by cooking with too much oil or fat, or by not cleaning the stovetop regularly. Electrical problems can be caused by faulty wiring, overloaded outlets, or using appliances near water.
No matter what the cause, it’s important to be vigilant when cooking in the kitchen.
Never leave food unattended on the stovetop, and make sure to keep an eye on any electrical appliances you’re using. If a fire does start, always call 911 immediately and evacuate your home if possible.
What Percentage of Fires are Caused by Kitchen?
The percentage of house fires that started in the kitchen was 11 percent, according to a report by the National Fire Protection Association. That’s lower than the percentage of fires caused by other common ignition sources, such as electrical (17 percent) and heating equipment (15 percent). But it’s still a significant number considering that the kitchen is where we spend a lot of our time at home.
So what can you do to prevent a kitchen fire? The NFPA offers these tips:
-Keep things that can catch fire – like oven mitts, wooden utensils, towels and curtains – away from your stovetop.
-Ensure your smoke alarms are working properly. Test them monthly and replace the batteries at least once a year.
-Never leave cooking food unattended.
If you have to leave the room for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
-Don’t overload electrical outlets and never use an extension cord with a high-wattage appliance like a coffee maker or toaster oven.
By following these simple safety tips, you can help keep your kitchen safe from fires.
How Many Kitchen Fires a Year?
According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are an average of 156,600 kitchen fires in the United States each year. These fires cause an estimated $1 billion in property damage, and result in 3,280 civilian deaths and 15,520 civilian injuries.
What Are The Causes of Kitchen Fires? And How To Extinguish Them?
Facts About Kitchen Fires
Kitchen fires are one of the most common types of fire in the home. They can be caused by a number of factors, including cooking oil, grease, electrical appliances, and even candles. Here are some facts about kitchen fires that you should know:
1. Kitchen fires account for an estimated $2.5 billion in property damage each year in the United States alone.
2. Two-thirds of all home structure fires start in the kitchen.
3. Cooking is the leading cause of home structure fires overall, accounting for nearly half (48%) of all reported incidents.
4. Grease and cooking oil are major fuel sources for kitchen fires. In fact, grease or cooking oil is responsible for igniting almost one-quarter (24%) of all reported home structurefires involving kitchens .
5. Electrical appliances are another major source of ignition for kitchen fires .
About 17% of reported home structurefires involving kitchens started with electrical equipment such as stoves, ovens, microwaves, toasters, and coffee makers/tea kettles .
Commercial Kitchen Fire Statistics
A commercial kitchen fire is a very serious matter. Each year, these fires cause an estimated $100 million in property damage and result in 300 deaths, 5,000 injuries, and 3,000 civilian fire fatalities in the United States.
The leading cause of commercial kitchen fires is cooking equipment.
This includes stoves, ovens, deep fryers, and grills. Other causes include electrical problems, such as faulty wiring or overloaded circuits; careless smoking; and flammable liquids such as grease or cleaning fluids.
There are some simple steps that you can take to reduce the risk of a commercial kitchen fire:
-Keep your cooking area clean. Grease and food buildup can be extremely combustible.
-Inspect your cooking equipment regularly to ensure that it is in good working order.
-Have a qualified technician inspect your exhaust system to make sure it is up to code and functioning properly.
-Make sure all employees are trained in proper fire safety procedures and know how to use all the extinguishers located throughout the kitchen.
-Install an automatic sprinkler system in your commercial kitchen.
How to Prevent Kitchen Fires
Most kitchen fires are preventable if you take the right precautions. The following tips will help you avoid a kitchen fire:
1. Keep your stovetop clean.
A build-up of grease and food can easily ignite, so make sure to wipe down your stove after cooking.
2. Don’t leave cooking food unattended. If you have to step away from the stove, turn it off first.
3. Keep flammable objects away from the stove. This includes things like dishtowels, paper towels, and curtains.
4. Be careful when using oil for frying.
Hot oil can easily catch fire, so keep a close eye on it while cooking. If it starts to smoke, turn off the heat immediately and move the pan away from the stove top.
5 .
Don’t overload electrical outlets . Too many appliances plugged into one outlet can cause a fire, so spread them out throughout your kitchen .
6 Have a working smoke alarm .
This is one of the most important things you can do to prevent a kitchen fire . Make sure to test your smoke alarm monthly and replace its batteries at least once a year .
Fire Accident in Kitchen
A fire accident in the kitchen is one of the most dangerous things that can happen in a home. According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. While it is important to be careful when cooking, there are some simple steps that you can take to prevent a fire from starting in your kitchen.
1. Never leave food unattended while it is cooking. If you have to leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove or oven.
2. Keep flammable items like towels and pot holders away from the stove top.
3. Do not wear loose fitting clothing while cooking. Long sleeves can easily catch on fire if they come into contact with a flame or hot surface.
4. Always keep a working fire extinguisher in your kitchen and know how to use it properly.
In the event of a small grease fire, smother the flames by putting a lid on the pan until it cools down completely. Do not try to move the pan outside as this will only spread the flames.
Conclusion
According to the National Fire Protection Association, kitchen fires are the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. In fact, one out of every five home structure fires is caused by cooking equipment. While this may seem like a lot, it’s actually a decrease from previous years.
This is likely due to the increased use of smoke alarms and other safety devices in homes.
Still, kitchen fires are nothing to scoff at. They can cause serious damage to your home and put your family at risk.
If you have a fire in your kitchen, be sure to call 911 immediately and evacuate the premises. Then, follow these tips from the NFPA to help prevent future kitchen fires:
– Keep anything that can catch fire – like oven mitts, wooden utensils, towels, and curtains – away from your stovetop.
– Clean your stovetop regularly to remove grease buildup.
– Never leave food unattended while it’s cooking. Turn off the stove if you have to leave the room for even a short period of time.
