Every year, cooking accidents cause nearly 175,000 fires, resulting in countless injuries and millions of dollars in damages. While your homeowner’s insurance policy will likely pay to repair or rebuild your house, it’s better to avoid this terrible situation as soon as possible. Avoid most kitchen fires with the following safety tips.

A Guide to Preventing Kitchen Fires

Stay in the Kitchen

It only takes a moment for an unattended stove to cause a fire, so never leave the kitchen when you’re cooking. If you have to step out for a moment, turn off the burners, or ask someone to watch the stove until you get back.

Keep the Area Clear

Many kitchen fires start by flammable materials coming into contact with burners, so always keep areas around the stove clear. Dish towels, oven mitts, wooden utensils, and food packaging should be kept far away from the stove, especially if you cook with gas.

Have a Fire Extinguisher Ready

If a fire does break out, a fire extinguisher can save your home and potentially lower your homeowner’s insurance rates. A five-pound fire extinguisher will have enough power to care for most kitchen fires while being small enough to control.

Keep Children Out of the Kitchen

Children playing in the kitchen can easily knock a pan off the stove, burning themselves and starting a fire that could spread quickly through the room. If you have rambunctious pets or very small children, you may want to consider adding baby gates to the kitchen entrance.
 

Accidents sometimes happen no matter how careful you try to be, which is why a sound homeowner’s insurance policy is so important. For over 15 years, Steven Hall of Farmers Insurance® has helped clients throughout Mountain Grove, MO, protect the things that matter most, with policies backed by a trusted national carrier. Follow our Twitter for more tips and advice, and call (417) 926-7900 or visit us online to request your free homeowner’s insurance quote today.