Center Point fire chief warns of increased kitchen fire risk this summer

CENTER POINT, Ala. (WBRC) - Cooking fires are the number one cause of house fires in the country, and a local fire chief says summer only makes the risk worse.

Center Point Fire Chief Brandon Dahlen said kitchen fires can happen in seconds — a forgotten pot, a grease splatter — and suddenly, a kitchen becomes a crisis.

“They’re doing multiple things at once, or they go to check on something, or just forget — and before you know it, a fire has started,” Dahlen said.

Every year, cooking fires send thousands to the hospital and cause hundreds of millions of dollars in home damage, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

“Preparation is always the best prevention. When you’re getting ready to cook, get the area clear of anything that can catch fire,” Dahlen said.

If a fire does start, Dahlen said don’t panic. There are steps you can take in those first critical seconds.

“Have a lid available. A lot of times when a fire starts, you can simply cover it and contain the fire, even put it out,” Dahlen said.

He recommends knowing where your fire extinguisher is before a fire starts. It could save your life.

Dahlen said a common mistake is storing the fire extinguisher right next to the stove. If a fire breaks out, reaching over it could mean serious burns. Keep it nearby — but somewhere you can safely reach.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than half of all cooking fire injuries happen when people try to fight the fire themselves.

“Someone will have a fire and they’ll panic and pick the pot up, try to run it out the door. And then next thing they spread a trail of fire through a house and it burnt their waist down,” Dahlen said.

Young children face a serious burn risk too.

“We see a lot of burns from items being pulled off or knocked off of a stove top that can fall down onto a child,” Dahlen said.

Dahlen said parents should talk to their kids about fire safety — before something goes wrong.

“As a parent, if your kids are cooking, make sure they have a good understanding and respect of what can happen,” Dahlen said.

Dahlen also has a warning for grillers. Keep your grill at least 15 to 20 feet away from your home, and if you’re using charcoal — make sure it’s completely cold before tossing it.

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