SERVPRO Warns Families About Dangers of Cooking Fires

SERVPRO®
Published: November 16th, 2010

Restoration Service Offers Tips to Help Prevent Kitchen Accidents This Thanksgiving Day

GALLATIN, TN -(Marketwire - November 16, 2010) - As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches and home cooks begin preparations for this annual family feast, Servpro Industries, Inc., a franchisor of water and fire damage restoration specialists, wants to remind families that cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. And, according to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), Thanksgiving Day is the peak day for home cooking fires.

Rick Isaacson, executive vice president of SERVPRO, says the best remedy for fire damage is to take steps to prevent a fire from starting. "By taking a few common-sense precautions, families can spend the Thanksgiving holiday savoring the aroma of roasting turkey and apple pie, and not dealing with the smoke and damage from a kitchen fire," said Isaacson.

SERVPRO offers these tips to keep the lid on cooking fires and accidents this holiday:

Watch What You Heat:

• The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking, so stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you must leave the kitchen, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
• When you simmer, bake, roast or boil food, check it regularly. Don't leave your home while food is cooking and set a timer to remind yourself that you have something on the stove or in the oven.
• Stay alert! Too little sleep, some medicines and alcohol consumption can all make you drowsy and less able to concentrate on safety.

Keep Flammable Things and Heat Sources Apart:

• Oven mitts, potholders, wooden utensils, food packaging, paper or plastic bags, towels, curtains -- the list of flammable things you'll find in any kitchen goes on and on. Keep things that can catch fire away from your stovetop.
• Cleanliness counts! Clean up spills, grease, etc., as they happen or as soon as possible when the stovetop or oven is cool. Help prevent spills by keeping your pets off cooking surfaces and nearby countertops and by keeping children a safe distance away from stovetops and prep areas.
• Dress thoughtfully. Long sleeves, scarves, and loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire.

"Make kitchen safety a priority every day, but especially during the holiday season when entertaining and family events mean more time spent cooking and preparing food," adds Isaacson. "It's tempting to take shortcuts when the pressure of the holidays mounts, but a fire will take a much greater toll not just in time but in possible injury, damage and repairs."

If a cooking fire does break out, the NFPA offers this advice:

• Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
• Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after you leave.
• If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out.
• Keep a lid nearby when you're cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
• For an oven fire turn off the heat and keep the door closed.

For more information about SERVPRO, please visit www.servpro.com.

About SERVPRO

Founded in 1967, the SERVPRO franchise system is a national leader and provider of fire and water cleanup and restoration services and mold mitigation and remediation. SERVPRO's professional services network of more than 1,500 individually owned and operated franchises responds to property damage emergencies ranging from small individual disasters to multi-million dollar large-loss situations. Providing coverage in 48 states, the SERVPRO System has established relationships with major insurance companies and commercial clients, as well as individual homeowners. All SERVPRO franchises are independently owned and operated.