Small habits can make a big impact in reducing kitchen fires

On Sept. 16, a Mutual 6 resident left a pot of beans cooking on the stove and fell asleep. The unattended pot began to smoke heavily, drawing the attention of neighbors who alerted Security. According to the Security report, smoke filled the apartment. Though the beans were completely burned, no fire occurred.

When the Orange County Fire Authority responded to the scene, they identified an additional hazard: a pile of papers next to the stove.

The incident reaffirms the importance of fire safety. From 2017-2021, cooking was the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, and the second leading cause of home fire deaths, according to a report by the National Fire Protection Association. More than 25% of the people killed by cooking fires were asleep when they were fatally injured, according to the same report. More than half of the non-fatal injuries occurred when people tried to control the fire themselves.

The Orange County Fire Authority recommends the following safety precautions to avoid kitchen fires:

• Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food.

• Check food often while cooking. If entertaining guests, use a kitchen timer as a reminder that the stove or oven is on.

• Wear short, fitted or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.

• Keep cooking areas clear. Pot holders, paper towels, wooden utensils, and even cookbooks can be fire hazards if left too close to the stove, oven, or other kitchen appliances.

• Clean cooking surfaces regularly to prevent grease buildup.

• Make sure children and pets stay at least 3 feet from the oven or stove.

• Test smoke alarms and never disable them while cooking.

What to do if there is a fire:

• If the fire is on the stove, cover the pan with a lid and turn off the stove. Never try to move the pan to the sink and never pour water on a grease fire.

• If the fire is in the oven or microwave, keep the door closed and turn off the appliance.

• A multipurpose fire extinguisher can be used on a small cooking fire. An extinguisher should only be used if the fire is not spreading, smoke and heat have not filled the area, and you have a clear escape path.