Preventing Home Cooking Fires/Injuries
(Santa Rosa Beach) – The holiday season is approaching and it is the time of year when family and friends
come together to celebrate. Most of the holiday festivities revolve around a meal. With all the guests,
distractions, and excitement of the holiday season, cooking and food preparation can be overwhelming and
potentially dangerous.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):
• Cooking fires are the #1 cause of home fires and home fire injuries.
• Two-thirds or 66% of home cooking fire started with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.
• During 2004–2008, fire departments responded to an average of 155,000 home structure fires that
involved cooking equipment per year.
• These fires caused an average of 460 civilian fire deaths, 4,850 civilian fire injuries and $724 million in
direct property damage per year.
• Ranges were involved in three of every five (59%) of home cooking fire incidents. Ovens accounted for
16%.
• Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires.
The South Walton Fire District would like to remind everyone of the importance of maintaining a fire safe
environment during the holidays. By following some simple safety tips it will help keep you, your family,
friends/guest and your home safe for the holiday.
• Always keep an eye on food being heated. Unattended cooking causes the majority of fires in the
kitchen. If you leave the kitchen, turn off the heat.
• Keep children away from appliances when cooking. Enforce a "kid-free zone" around the stove and
teach youngsters not to play in that area.
• Dress appropriately for cooking. Wear short or tight fitting sleeves when cooking and try not to reach
over the stove.
• Turn handles inward so pots and pans won't be pulled or knocked off the stove.
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“Prompt, Competent, Caring Response in Time of Need”
• Keep the stove-top clean and clear. Keep food and grease from building up by cleaning often and
keep things that can catch fire, like pot holders or wooden utensils, away from heat.
• Carefully monitor hot oil, keeping the pan lid close at hand. Guard against splattering grease by
lowering food into oil with utensils; don't just drop it in.
• If you're cooking with oil and it ignites, don't throw water on the fire. Don't try moving the pan either.
Turn the burner off and smother the fire with a pan lid. If this doesn't work, leave the house and call
9-1-1.
• If you have a fire in your microwave oven, close the door to the microwave and unplug it. Don't use
the microwave again until you've had it serviced. Do not put any metallic materials in the microwave
oven.
• Keep an "ABC" dry chemical fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
• Use caution with electrical appliances. Plug one appliance into an outlet at a time. Have
appliances with frayed or cracked cords repaired before use.
• Keep heat-producing appliances away from walls and curtains.
• Keep appliance cords as short as possible to avoid accidents such as tripping or knocking
the appliance over.
• Always have hot pads and lids ready when cooking. You may need them if you experience
a small pan fire.
• Use a burner that's the appropriate size for the pan you're using.
The SWFD wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season and to ensure you do, we are
available to answer any fire safety questions you may have. Please contact Fire Marshal Sammy
Sanchez at 850-267-1298 or info@swfd.org for more information.
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