Preventing Kitchen Fires During the Holidays

Keep Your Family Safe from Residential Fire Damage in Baltimore

For many, the holidays are a time of joy, celebration, and family gatherings. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, New Year's Eve and beyond, a popular way to entertain guests and spend time with family and friends is to cook extravagant meals and enjoy delicious food with loved ones.

However, these celebrations are not free of potential safety risks to your Baltimore home. Cooking fires occur frequently during this time of the year and can cause significant damage to your property, in addition to severe injuries or death.

At ServiceMaster by Singer, our goal is to educate our Baltimore customers about the risks of fire damage and introduce ways that you can keep yourself and your family safe this holiday season. Fires are not only a serious threat to your property, but to the safety of you and your family.

Cooking Fires are a Leading Cause of Residential Fire Damage

The severity of cooking fires and the damage they can cause should not be underestimated. A small pan fire can quickly escalate and engulf your entire kitchen in flames.

According to the National Fire Prevention Association, from 2015-2019:

• Cooking was the leading cause of reported home fires and home fire injuries, and the second leading cause of home fire deaths.
• Cooking-related accidents caused nearly half of all reported home fires, 20% of reported home fire deaths, and 42% of home fire injuries.

Additionally, in 2019, Thanksgiving Day had more reported home cooking fires than any other day of the year, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. While cooking and spending time with family is not discouraged, it’s important to stay vigilant about the risk of household fires during these times.

How to Prevent Cooking Fires in Your Baltimore Home

There are numerous steps you can take to prevent cooking fires in your household. Considering these tips and maintaining awareness can help you avoid a disaster this holiday season.

Never Leave an Active Kitchen Unattended

One of the most important steps you can take to prevent home fires during the holidays is to pay attention while cooking. Whether it’s an oven, stovetop, or other fire source, always remain in the kitchen and keep an eye on what you are preparing. This will help you avoid burning your food and prevent small fires from escalating.

Additionally, if you’ve consumed a significant amount of alcohol or feel fatigued, it's best to leave cooking responsibilities to someone else. Safely using heat sources and sharp objects like knives requires your full attention.

Keep Flammable Items Away from Heat Sources

Keeping flammable objects away from the stovetop and other heat sources is an essential part of preventing fires and protecting your home during the holidays. Not only can these items catch fire easily, but they are also difficult to put out once they have started burning.

Flammable items you should be mindful of include:

• Towels
• Potholders
• Oven mitts
• Food packaging
• Wooden utensils

Additionally, you should be mindful of the clothes you’re wearing while cooking. Wearing loose-fitting clothing, such as a scarf or blouse, is hazardous as it could easily come into contact with the stovetop or another hot surface.

Keep a Lid Nearby When Cooking on the Stove

When cooking anything on the stove, it’s important to keep a lid of the appropriate size nearby to smother any fires that may occur. If a small grease fire starts in a pot or pan, promptly cover the fire with the lid if it is safe to do so, as this can help decrease oxygen and smother the flames. You should never pour water onto a grease fire, as this will fuel the flames and can cause the burning grease to splash.

Additionally, you should keep a working fire extinguisher readily accessible in your kitchen while cooking. This can help you douse small fires before they spread and become more destructive.

Be Mindful When Cooking with Oils

Cooking with oils requires extra caution due to their flammability. If your oil starts to smoke or burn, remove it from the stove immediately. Heat oil slowly, rather than adding it directly into a hot pan, and use caution when adding food to the pan to avoid sizzling and splashing.

What To Do in the Event of a Kitchen Fire

Unfortunately, even the most vigilant of cooks may still encounter a kitchen fire. If you are ever caught in this situation, it’s important to remain calm and take action to keep you and your family members safe. While protecting your property is important, the safety of you and your loved ones should always be the top priority in the event of a residential fire.

If you are ever in doubt about your ability to put out a kitchen fire quickly and safely, just get out! It is always better to keep yourself and your family safe than to risk injury trying to put out a fire. As you exit the area, close the door behind you to help contain the flames. Once you’ve reached a safe location, call 911 for help.

Always listen to the instructions of emergency personnel, and never attempt to re-enter your home until it is deemed safe to do so by the relevant authorities. As soon as possible, you should begin documenting the damage and contact your insurance provider to begin the claims process.

Contact ServiceMaster by Singer for Residential Fire Damage Restoration in Baltimore

Fires are traumatic and distressing events that can take an emotional toll on those that experience them. If your Baltimore home has been affected by fire damage, don’t hesitate to call ServiceMaster by Singer for repair and restoration help once the flames have been doused. Our team will take care of the heavy lifting while you focus on your loved ones.

Our comprehensive fire damage restoration services include:

• Clothing and upholstery cleaning
• Fire damage repair
• Soot, smoke, and odor removal
• Tarping and boardup
• Wall, ceiling, and cabinet washing

You can count on us to help make your house feel like home again after the devastation caused by a fire. We provide the support you need throughout the recovery process, from navigating insurance claims to restoring your valuable items to their original condition.