There’s a lot of information this time of year about fire safety during the holidays with regard Christmas trees and space heaters. It’s important to know that most fires during the holidays start in the kitchen.
During the holiday season we tend to cook and entertain more (sometimes while consuming alcohol!), factors that increase the chance of mishaps in the kitchen.
As part of your holiday routine, make a habit to clean your oven and stovetop before entertaining. Ensure that your smoke detectors are working, your fire extinguisher has been recently charged, and baking soda is stored away from the stovetop for easy access.
Here are some more tips to help keep you safe in the kitchen during the holidays.
- Be aware and remove loose clothing or scarves that may ignite on a hot burner.
- Keep the crowd in the kitchen, especially children and pets, to a minimum to better focus on what is cooking.
- Turn pot handles inward, but not over hot burners, so they’re not easily bumped. Unattended cooking is the main cause of kitchen fires during the holidays. If it’s necessary to leave the kitchen while entertaining, use a timer as a reminder to check on the progress of what’s cooking.
- Never leave the house when using the stove, oven or crockpot.
Have a safe and enjoyable holiday!