Kitchen fires are the leading cause of residential fires in the US. The National Fire Protection Association says that thirty percent of all home fires start in the kitchen. An estimated 100,000 to 200,000 kitchen fires occur each year in the United States. These fires cause hundreds of deaths, injure thousands, and cost millions of dollars in damage. Ninety percent of all kitchen fires occur during cooking. Most kitchen fires occur when the stove is left unattended.

There does not appear to be any month or season that shows an increase in kitchen fires, although there appears to be a slight decrease during the summer months. Experts theorize that this is due in part to the amount of outdoor cooking (barbecuing) that summer induces, as well as the increase in vacation time that simply allows people to cook at home.

Safety and fire prevention are paramount in every home. Some basic home safety measures can help prevent kitchen fires, such as keeping the stove and oven clean, making sure combustibles are removed from the stove, and removing greasy pans or pots from the stove immediately after cooking. its use (lighting the wrong burner). It’s happened to all of us!). With the new advances in home safety in recent years, there are now also products that can ensure that kitchen fires caused by unattended cooking do not occur.

A relatively new product called Stove Guard has been developed to help reduce the number of kitchen fires that start in a stove or oven. The Stove Guard monitors movement in the kitchen and will automatically cut power if the kitchen is unattended. This unit can be added to any type of stove, be it a regular type stove, an electric stove, or a gas stove. With kitchen fires being the leading cause of fire-related deaths, and our senior population most at risk, having one of these devices installed for your elderly loved ones can be a life-saving option!

There are many professionals who praise this line of products. Occupational therapists and home care workers recommend Stove Guard installation for their developmentally challenged clients and seniors at home. Many senior home managers have also installed Stove Guard to provide an added level of security for their senior residents. Stove Guard has enabled thousands of otherwise institutionalized individuals to remain independent in their homes and residences longer.

Fire safety should be a priority for everyone, regardless of age. Careless cooking fires can happen in any home, so be sure to protect yourself and your loved ones.