Holiday Fire Safety: Cooking

It is an undisputed law of nature that when a holiday party is held at home, a guest migration to the kitchen will inevitably occur.

Perhaps it is the warmth emitted by the oven, or the tantalizing smell of fresh-baked cookies, but something about the kitchen space is irresistible to revelers.

However, it is also this space, or rather, the actions which occur in this space, that is, cooking, that represent the leading cause of all winter residential building fires, according to national statistics provided by the U.S. Fire Administration.

On average, winter residential building fires result in an estimated 945 deaths, 3,825 injuries and almost $2 billion in property loss each year.

While many holiday parties are only beginning in the early evening hours, national statistics show winter residential building fires peak from 5-8 p.m. 

Although Macomb Township had only six building fires during December and January of 2009 and 2010, the Macomb Township Fire Department still recommends residents follow these holiday safety tips provided on the U.S. Fire Administration's Website:

• Use cooking equipment tested and approved by a recognized testing facility.
• Plug microwave ovens and other cooking appliances directly into an outlet. Never use an extension cord for a cooking appliance, as it can overload the circuit and cause a fire.
• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• If you are simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you.
• Stay alert! To prevent cooking fires, you have to be alert. You won't be if you are sleepy, have been drinking alcohol, or have taken medicine that makes you drowsy.
• Keep anything that can catch fire - potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, towels, or curtains -- away from your stovetop.
• Keep the stovetop, burners and oven clean.
• Keep pets off cooking surfaces and nearby countertops to prevent them from knocking things onto the burner.
• Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire if it comes into contact with a gas flame or electric burner.

In case of fire, Chief Robert Phillips said residents should call 911.