Cooking the No. 1 cause of winter home fires

Fire prevention and fire safety are mostly about remembering the basics, according to State Fire Marshal Randy Cole and Cape Girardeau battalion chief Brian Shaffer.

Overloaded power outlets, dry Christmas trees and unattended candles are among the leading fire hazards around the holidays, the Missouri Division of Fire Safety said in a news release this week.

A U.S. Fire Administration report released this year said about 108,000 residential building fires occur during the winter nationwide every year. The fires, on average, have resulted in 945 deaths and more than 3,000 injuries.

Cooking is the No. 1 cause of winter home fires, at 36 percent, followed by heating, at 23 percent.

"It's the basic stuff that causes the fires," said Shaffer, the Cape Girardeau Fire Department's fire marshal. "It's amazing how many ways you can catch your house on fire in the kitchen."

Preparing a holiday meal can be intense, Shaffer said, with burners, the oven and other appliances operating simultaneously. He suggested keeping children out of the cooking area and to also keep dish towels and cookbooks at least three feet from hot surfaces.

Also, he said to remember that kitchen appliances are for cooking and not for keeping a residence warm.

"Do not use your oven for heating the house. A lot of people do it; it's still one of the major leading cause of fires," Shaffer said.

Other fire hazards during the winter are low-watt space heaters, which should be placed on a level, nonflammable, hard surface, Cole said. The small heaters shouldn't be left unattended, either, according to Shaffer. Those looking to buy one, he said, should seek out heaters with an automatic shut-off option.

Eliminate creosote

The Division of Fire Safety also recommends to keep small children and pets away from any unit used to heat a residence, especially fireplaces, which should be contained using glass or metal fire screens.

"Burn it very hot twice a day for 15 to 30 minutes," Shaffer said. "Those slow, smoldering fires, that builds the creosote. That's what catches on fire."

Although knowing about the fire dangers is an important step, Shaffer said, it's just as important take precautions and keep a fire extinguisher in an accessible place in the kitchen and smoke detectors on each level of a residence.

"Remembering to think of fire safety is one of the best gifts you can give your family and the people you entertain this holiday season," Cole said. "It only takes a few minutes and is important now because winter is the most dangerous season for injuries and deaths due to fire."

For more information on prevention holiday fires, log on to www.dps.mo.gov.

ehevern@semissourian.com

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