Residential fire damage.

4/13/2018 (Permalink)

SERV{PRO cleans fire damage in St. Joseph, Stevensville, Bridgman, Harbor Country, New Buffalo, Buchanan, Niles, Eau Claire, Coloma, Watervliet.

St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Niles, New Buffalo, Stevensville, Bridgman, Buchanan, Eau Claire, Watervliet, Coloma

More home fires start in the kitchen than anywhere else. In 2011, cooking was involved in an estimated 156,300 home fires that caused:

• 470 deaths
• 5,390 injuries
• $1 billion in property damage

These Numbers could be greatly reduced if people paid more attention when they cooked and practiced simple fire safety behaviors.

Unattended Cooking

is the leading cause of kitchen fires

• Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling of broiling food
• Check food regularly – use a timer to remind you the stove/oven is On
• If you must leave – turn the oven Off

Stay Alert

to avoid stirring up trouble

• Don’t use the oven or stovetop if you are sleepy, have consumed alcohol or are using drugs.

Hot Tips

• Keep pot handles turned in
• When you microwave food, open the container slowly to let steam escape and let food cool before eating
• Cool a burn under water for 3 to 5 minutes and cover it with a clean dry cloth
• If the burn is bigger than your fist, seek immediate medical assistance

Flammable Objects

Keep away from the stove

• Keep anything that can burn a safe distance away from the stove
• Clean up food and grease from burners and the stove top
• Wear short, tight-fighting, or lightly-rolled sleeves. If clothes catch fire, stop, drop and roll over and over or back and forth to put the fire out. Get medical help.

Be Ready

to react fast to a cooking fire

• When in doubt – just get out!
• If you try to fight fire with a fire extinguisher, be sure:
  1. Other people are leaving the home
  2. Someone is calling the fire department
  3. You have a clear exit path
• If a small fire starts:
  1. Slide a lid over the pan
  2. Turn Off the burner
  3. Leave a the pan covered until it is completely cool
• For an oven or microwave fire, turn off the unit and keep the door closed.  

If you do have a problem in the kitchen or any other room in the house give SERVPRO of Berrien County a call.  We will clean up all Fire, Smoke and water damage.