Don't let this happen to you!
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
Cooking is the leading cause of house fires, according to Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Public Information Officer Tim Szymanski.
These fires can be prevented by simply staying near the stove or oven when you are cooking, said Szymanski.
If you use a turkey fryer, make sure to cook at least ten feet away from any home or building.
It’s important to have a fire extinguisher — such as First Alert Tundra — to quickly put flames out, added Szymanski.
A smoke and carbon dioxide alarm are also vital in detecting harmful gases.
Your purchase should cost less than $10, Szymanski said, which is nothing compared to the more than $100,000 you could spend if your home catches on fire.
The Red Cross of Southern Nevada provided the following tips to help families prevent cooking fires this holiday:
- Don’t wear loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.
- Never leave cooking food unattended – stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food. If you must leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
- Check your food regularly while cooking and remain in the home while cooking. Use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on.
- Keep the kids away from fires and the cooking area. Enforce a “kid-free zone” and make them stay at least three feet away from the stove or fires.
- Keep anything that can catch fire – pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains—away from your stove, oven or any other appliance in the kitchen that generates heat.
- Clean cooking surfaces on a regular basis to prevent grease buildup.
- Consider purchasing a fire extinguisher to keep in your kitchen. Contact your local fire department to take training on the proper use of extinguishers.
- Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving the home to make sure all stoves, ovens, and small appliances are turned off.
- Install a smoke alarm near your kitchen, on each level of your home, near sleeping areas, and inside and outside bedrooms if you sleep with doors closed. Use the test button to check it each month. Replace all batteries at least once a year.
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