According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and resulting injuries.

While you can’t anticipate or prepare for every possible cause, there are numerous preventive measures you can take to help keep your family safe.  Here are several for your consideration.   At the same time, implementing a few added precautionary measures might just help prevent a fire in your kitchen:

• Stay alert. Don’t use the stove or oven if you are sleepy or under the influence of alcohol.
• Don’t leave cooking food unattended. Stay in the kitchen while cooking or baking food. If you must leave the kitchen, ask a responsible adult to keep an eye on things until you return.
• Use a timer when baking or roasting food as a reminder to check on it at regular intervals.
• Keep oven mitts, kitchen towels, wooden utensils, food packaging, or anything else that can catch fire away from the stovetop.
• Clean cooking surfaces often to prevent grease from building up.
• Keep a lid nearby to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by carefully sliding the lid over the pan, then turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
• In case of an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy n or near your kitchen.
• If you can’t safely fight the fire, leave the house immediately (closing the door behind you to help contain the fire) and call 9-1-1 from a safe location.

Now Security Systems also can help protect your home and family by installing a smoke detector near your kitchen and in other key locations.  We also offer 24/7 monitoring so we can get you the help you might need quickly and reliably. Contact us today for more information and a free in-home security consultation.