October is Fire Prevention Month and the theme for 2020 is Serve Up Safety in the Kitchen. According to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) the #1 reason for home fires and home fire injuries is cooking. We are going to share some tips for keeping your kitchen safe and fire free. Take a look at our favorite fire safety tips:

Stay in the Kitchen If you are frying, boiling, grilling or broiling food, do not leave the kitchen. If you need to leave–even for a little while–turn the burners off.

Don’t Leave Home If you are baking, roasting or simmering anything, do not leave the house. Make sure you return to the kitchen regularly to check on your meal. It is a good idea to set a timer to remind you that you are cooking. It is easy to get distracted!

Dress Appropriately Pay attention to what you are wearing when you cook. Loose clothing, scarves or long sleeves can catch fire.

Avoid Drowsy or Drunk Cooking If you have had a long day and are overtired, don’t cook. It is also not a good idea to cook when you have been drinking. Why not order take-out instead?

Be Neat in the Kitchen Keep towels, food wrappers, oven mitts, wooden spoons and any other item that can easily catch fire (such as paper products) away from the stove top. It is also a good idea to keep all cords away from the stove and the edge of the counter.

If A Fire Occurs… Keep a lid close by so that if a small grease fire occurs, you can quickly put it out by sliding the lid over the pan and quickly turning off the burner. If a fire occurs in your oven or microwave, turn off the heat, keep the door closed and be sure to have the appliance serviced before you use it again!

We care about our clients and strive to do what we can to help them protect their home and family. We hope you have found our fire safety tips helpful!