Warning: Knobs on your Kitchen Stove can cause a fire.

1/18/2021 (Permalink)

Don’t get BURNED for not cooking.

What’s on your stove and Inside your oven?

Who loves pizza? No one would imagine that ordering out pizza and NOT COOKING could actually result in a house fire… but it has happened. Have you ever left a cardboard pizza box on the cold stove or inside a cold oven for the next day? I mean, I have. SERVPRO has responded to fire losses that started because something flammable was left in or on appliances used to cook and why not? It was off.

Well, although it was off, some kitchen stove knobs are extremely sensitive and may accidentally be turned on without a homeowner realizing it. Have small children and pets? They could turn it on without you noticing too. Check out this video of a dog who turned on the stove as she reached over it.

A recent loss we responded to was a result of a cereal box catching on fire after the homeowner bumped into the stove’s knob without realizing she turned it on.

Leaving anything in the oven is not a good idea. It becomes “out of sight, out of mind.” In other words, you can forget it’s there! All of sudden, because you had the intention of cooking a Baked Ziti dish, preheated the oven without realizing that there is something in there, and then PUFF, fire!

Stove & Oven Safety Tips

• Do not put anything flammable on your stove or in your oven.
• Keep your stove and oven clean from spills, grease, food, or oil residue.
• Always check inside your oven before preheating it. Do not use for storage.
• Install a smoke detector in or near the kitchen.
• Invest in a Stove Knob Covers or Stove Locking Straps.
• Make sure your stove or oven has not been recalled (https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls ).
• Keep a fire extinguisher (specifically for grease fires) nearby. Baking Soda can help extinguish a small grease fire. Metal Lids can help suppress a small fire.
• Turn off burners or ovens immediately after use.
• If there is a fire, act quickly. Evacuate everyone and call 911 first!

Need Help Cleaning up After a Fire?

Let SERVPRO of Decorah help you by restoring your home or business “Like it never even happened.” Our team is highly trained as Fire Restoration Technicians and content cleaning experts. Give us a call at ((563) 277-1615.

Resource: How to Safely Put Out a Kitchen Fire