The National Fire Protection Association has issued a reports that names cooking fires as the leading cause of home fires and home fire related injuries.
An average of 2,650 people died between the years of 2005 and 2009 from home fires. Injuries averaged at 12,890. Cooking fires caused 40 percent of those fires.
The NFPA has provided the following safety tips to prevent cooking fires in your home:
- Don’t leave your kitchen while you’re cooking or while the stove is on.
- If you are baking, boiling or simmering food, check it frequently and do not leave the house.
- Make sure your stove top is free of materials that could easily catch fire.
If a fire does start:
- Keep a lid by your cooking area to stop a grease fire. In the event of such a fire, slide the lid over the fire and turn off the source of heat.
- If an oven fire begins, shut off the oven and keep the oven door closed.
- If a fire begins, don’t try to put it out yourself. Immediately call 9-1-1 and leave. Fifty-nine percent of non-fatal injuries happened when victims tried to manage the fire on their own.
As a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, consumer health and safety is something that I am invested in. Please keep these tips in mind when you’re cooking in your home. In my experience as a wrongful death attorney, I’ve seen many devastating accidents stem from fires that got out of control.