Modern Mississauga presents Fire Tip Friday - How to prevent kitchen fires

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Modern Mississauga and the Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services have come together to present an ongoing series called “Fire Tip Friday” where we'll share tips on how to prevent fires in and around your home.
Today’s tip is on making sure your BBQ is safe to use.

The doorbell rings while you’re in the middle of making dinner. You have two responsible choices. You can either ignore the incessant ringing or take the pot off the stove and answer the door. You’re already behind schedule. The kids have to be at soccer in less than an hour, it’s your turn to bring the snack and you haven’t started cutting up the watermelon. You’ve been waiting for the air conditioner repair company all day and the baby can’t sleep when it’s too hot. You don’t choose either of your responsible options and instead leave the pot on the stove and answer the door. In the two minutes that you were gone, a fire started. What could you have done differently?

The most common cause of fires in the home is unattended cooking. Kitchen fires due to cooking oil or grease igniting into flames cause the fastest-spreading and most destructive type of residential fires. When cooking with grease or oil, it’s extremely important that you plan ahead so that you can react quickly.

Kitchen fires can be completely preventable by following a few very simple steps.

  • Always stay in the kitchen while cooking. If you must leave, turn off the stove.
     
  • Keep anything that burns such as cooking utensils, dishcloths, paper towels and pot holders away from the stove.
     
  • Loose-fitting clothes can come into contact with stove burners and catch fire. Wear tight sleeves or roll them up when cooking.
     
  • Keep a lid or cookie sheet handy in case grease or oil catches fire. They can be used to smother the fire by sliding them over the top of the pan.
     
  • Never attempt to move a flaming pot or pan away from the stove. The movement can fan the flames and spread the fire. The pan will also likely be very hot, causing you to drop it. Most importantly, react fast, because grease fires spread quickly.   
     
  • Keep your kids at a safe distance from heat sources. It’s important to talk to them about how you are being fire-safe so they grow up with valuable fire prevention knowledge that they can take into their own kitchens one day.

Fast Fact

Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. Be diligent. Don’t let your family memories go up in smoke.

If you have any questions about fire safety, please contact Mississauga’s Fire Prevention Office at 905-896-5908 or fire.prevention@mississauga.ca and follow us on Twitter @MississaugaFES.