Pots left on stove burning problem

GRAVENHURST — Pots left on the stove unattended causing fires have local fire officials being pro-active about the danger and unintended consequences.

Three recent fires involving unattended cooking have alarmed Gravenhurst Fire.

“Watch what you heat” is the message that the Gravenhurst Fire Department wants to convey to residents.

“Since March 16 we have responded to three separate incidents of unattended cooking in Gravenhurst,” said fire prevention officer Robert King. “Fortunately in all three cases there was only minimal smoke damage,” added King.

According to statistics from the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management, there is an average of 1,284 cooking fires a year in Ontario. The number one ignition source involved in residential civilian fire injuries is cooking equipment – accounting for 40% of fire related injuries.

In two of the recent incidents smoke alarms activated, alerting building residents and the fire department to the situation, while with the third incident a resident came home to find the house full of smoke and called 911.

“In that particular case the smoke alarms did not activate because they were past their ten year life span,” said King.

“This is a good reminder for everyone to check the date of their smoke alarms to ensure that they are less than 10 years old, and to replace batteries as required,” he said.

Only working smoke alarms and a practiced home escape plan will allow building occupants the advanced early warning to safely escape a fire in their home. Recent studies have shown that you may have as little as two minutes to get out of your home in a fire emergency.

Fire officials offer some reminders from the Gravenhurst Fire Department on preventing a kitchen fire from occurring in your home:

  • Stay in the kitchen when cooking and watch what you heat
  • Keep a proper fitting pot lid near the stove when cooking. If a pan catches fire, slide the lid over the pot and turn off the stove. Do not move the pan.
  • Wear tight fitting or rolled up sleeves when using the stove. If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop to the ground and roll over and over to smother the fire
  • Keep combustible items such as cooking utensils, dishcloths, paper towels and pot holders a safe distance from the stove
  • Keep children away from the stove. Make sure electrical cords are not dangling from counter tops, where they could be pulled over by small children
  • Cool a burn by running cool water over the wound for 3 – 5 minutes. If the burn is severe seek medical attention.