WELLINGTON COUNTY – As the holiday season approaches, kitchens will heat up with family feasts, late-night baking sessions and the occasional experimental recipe. Its a time when cooking-related fires spike, and during National Home Fire Safety Week (Nov. 24 to 30) the Canada Safety Council is reminding people that the most common cause of home fires isn’t candles or Christmas trees – it’s unattended cooking.
The fix isn’t complicated. It’s awareness, attention, and a little bit of common sense.
“The holidays bring joy and togetherness, but also distraction,” Canada Safety Council president and CEO Gareth Jones stated.
“Staying alert and taking a few simple precautions can make all the difference between a memorable meal and a dangerous accident.”
About 220 people in Canada die due to fires every year, according to Firefighting in Canada.
And according to Statistics Canada, almost a third of fires from 2015 to 2021 were related to cooking.
Most kitchen fires start when cooks step away “just for a minute.” Grease can ignite faster than a stick of butter can be unwrapped.
Canada Safety Council officials advise “if you must leave the room, even briefly, turn off the stove or ask someone to keep watch.”
They also recommend reducing clutter by keep oven mitts, utensils, packaging and towels well clear of heat sources. “Wipe up oil splatter as it happens; residue buildup can ignite later, long after the meal’s over. For deep-frying, use a thermometer and stay below 175 °C (350 °F).”
Wearing the right clothes is important too, officials note. Flowing sleeves, scarves and polyester blends make poor fire-resistant gear. “Opt for fitted clothing or roll sleeves snugly. It takes just one brush of fabric across a burner to start a chain reaction you’ll remember for all the wrong reasons.”
Keep children away from stoves and ovens.
House pets can become tripping hazards and should be kept out of the way, too.
If a pan ignites, never move it. Smother it with a metal lid or baking sheet and kill the heat. Baking soda can help with small grease fires; water will only make things worse. Make sure every adult in the household knows where the fire extinguisher is and how to use it – and, of course, that it actually works.
Should these preparations still lead to the worst-case scenario, be sure to have an exit plan.
The holidays are about warmth, not flames.
