As the weather gets cooler and the holidays approach, family and friends often gather in the kitchen to spend quality time together. While the kitchen is one of the most social areas in the home, it can also be the most dangerous.
"Cooking is the number one cause of home fires and they're often fast-spreading and very destructive," says Rob Simonds, president of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs.
Here are some tips to stay safe in your kitchen:
Arm Yourself Properly
. Install a photoelectric smoke alarm, which detects the type of slow, smoldering fire that often starts in the kitchen.
. Never remove batteries from a smoke alarm, and install fresh batteries at least once a year.
. Equip your kitchen with a fire extinguisher bearing the approval of a recognized agency such as ULC.
Tips to Prevent Kitchen Fires
. Stay in the kitchen when cooking.
. Keep the stove and surrounding area clear of items such as dish towels, pot holders and aprons.
. Turn pot handles inwards towards the centre of the stove and keep out of reach of small children.
. Always heat oil slowly over moderate heat.
. Turn all cooking devices off as soon as you have finished with them.
What to do in case of a Kitchen Fire
. Always keep a lid nearby and slide it over the pot to smother the flames. Turn off the burner. Do not move the pan until it is cool. Never pour water on a grease fire. It will cause it to flare up and spread. Never discharge a multipurpose fire extinguisher onto a pan fire as they can cause a fire to spread.
. If there is a fire in a microwave or oven, keep the door closed and turn the appliance off immediately.
. If you are trained and decide to fight the fire with a fire extinguisher, be sure others are already getting out and you have a clear path to exit.
"We encourage Canadians to take fire safety seriously by practicing safe cooking," said Victoria Maybee, external relations for Duracell Canada. "Your first line of defence is a working smoke alarm, so remember to install fresh batteries in every alarm at least once a year."
More information on home fire safety is available at www.duracellfiresafety. com or www.safeathome.ca.
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