Stove Fire Prevention

Most stove-top cooking should be done over low to medium heat settings.

The kitchen may be the heart of the home, but it can also be the most dangerous room in the house. According to the National Fire Protection Association, stove fires are the leading cause of structure fires, with Thanksgiving the peak day for cooking fires. In 2010, kitchen ranges were the site of more than half of all cooking fires, with unattended cooking the crucial factor in all these incidents.

Playing With Fire

No matter what type of stove you cook on, you are literally playing with fire if you don't pay close attention and take the proper precautions during the process. Gas stoves produce an actual flame that is unpredictable at best, while the burners on electric stoves can get red-hot and ignite anything that comes in contact with them. The worst cooking fires occur during frying, when cooking fats, oils and grease are close to a very hot heating element. When frying foods on either type of stove, never walk away for even a minute. If you must leave the stove, turn it off. When boiling, roasting, baking or simmering foods, check them frequently and stay inside, using a timer to remind you that you've left something on or in the stove. Don't cook if you are overtired or intoxicated, or take medications that cause drowsiness.

Fashion and Other Faux Pas

Cooking on a stove is not the time to be wearing that new outfit with the billowing sleeves, as clothing is often the first thing to be ignited in a stove fire. Keep all other flammable materials, such as curtains, dish cloths, paper towels, paper dinnerware, wooden cooking utensils, food wrappers, plastic storage bowls and potholders away from the stove's heating elements. Use only metal or any cookware clearly marked as safe for use on or inside stoves, and keep a lid close by during cooking to help put out a small grease fire. Always keep pot handles turned in to avoid them being knocked down or pulled down by a small child, and be sure to use the right-size cooking pan for the job in order to avoid food bubbling out and onto the stove top.

Neatness Counts

Even the smallest amount of greasy residue left on a stove top, burner or in the oven can catch fire, making cleanliness paramount in preventing disaster. Keep burner pans clean and free of any food debris at all times, and clean oven spills promptly, as these can ignite the next time you turn the oven on. Wipe electric stove burner coils regularly with a clean cloth dipped in hot water, and take apart and thoroughly clean the burner pans and racks on gas stoves before cooking.

Emergency Preparedness

In addition to working near open flame or very hot burners, keep in mind that all meat fats and cooking oils have a flash point, which means that, once they reach a certain temperature, they burst into flame. Keep a fire extinguisher handy at all times, as trying to put out grease fires with water may only make things worse. A fire can't burn without oxygen, so keep a container of salt, baking soda or flour near the stove to use to smother it. If a fire starts in your oven, do not open the door, and turn the oven off. If a fire does start on or in your stove, and you're not sure if you can put it out, dial 911, close off the kitchen, if possible, and leave the house.

References

• U.S. Fire Administration: Cooking Fire Safety
• This Old House: Stovetop Fire Safety; Sal Vaglica; 2011
• National Fire Protection Association: Cooking
• National Fire Protection Association: Cooking Safety Tips
• Drains and Plumbing: Grease Fires - Safety and Prevention