Kitchen Fire Blankets

Home fires are the leading cause of fire injuries and deaths in Canada. Statistics Canada reported that residential fires accounted for approximately two-thirds of structural fires between 2017 and 2021.

According to a 2023 Stats Canada Report, the leading cause of residential fires and fire related injuries are cooking mishaps.

Following the kitchen fire prevention and safety recommendations below can greatly reduce the chances of a kitchen fire, but accidents still can and do happen. And that’s where kitchen fire blankets can save the day.

Kitchen fire blankets are effective for extinguishing small kitchen fires, such as:

Fat, oil, or grease fires
Clothing fires
Small appliance fires
Waste bin fires

Kitchen Fire Prevention

Most home fires are preventable if the following precautions are taken:

Ensure that no combustible materials, such as kitchen towels, are hanging over the stove. Also ensure that other combustibles, like oil or paper products, are kept away from your stove and oven.

Clean all oil and fat spills from your stove and oven.

Regularly clean your toaster and empty the crumb tray, and don’t use it under any combustible materials.

Even when you’re not using your stove, make sure there are no combustible items on the stove top.

Regularly check your ventilation system for any buildup of grease or malfunction and clean it when necessary.

Kitchen Fire Safety

Don’t leave food that’s cooking unattended. When you’re frying, baking, boiling, or roasting, you should regularly check on your food, and make sure you don’t leave the kitchen.

If you absolutely must leave the kitchen, set a timer to make sure you don’t forget about your cooking. This should only be done if you are baking, boiling, or roasting. If you’re frying, leaving the kitchen is never recommended.

Small children, pets, and any combustible materials should be kept away from the cooking areas.

Make sure the handles on your cookware don’t stick out over the edge of the stove.

Your cooking oil should be heated slowly, and at a moderate temperature not exceeding 200 degrees Celsius.

Don’t be tempted to cook:

when you have been drinking alcohol or using cannabis.
when you have taken medication that has made you sleepy.

Avoid wearing loose fitting clothes while cooking.

Be very cautious when deep-fat frying since hot oil can catch fire very easily. Your fryer should not be filled to more than one-third full, and the oil should be kept at a moderate temperature.

Kitchen Fires

If you have a kitchen fire, follow these instructions:
For a stove top grease fire, don’t use water to try to extinguish it. Use your kitchen fire blanket instead. Turn off the heat and the exhaust fan, but only if it’s safe to do so.
For a fire in your oven, keep the door closed to prevent the fire from spreading, and turn off the heat.
For a fire in your microwave, keep the door closed and, if it’s safe to do so, unplug the microwave.
For a fire in a small appliance, use your kitchen fire blanket to cover the appliance.
If you’re not successful, it’s best to leave the house and call 911.