Valentine’s Day is Thursday, and many people may attempt to express their love with a home-cooked meal.
In Seattle and across the nation, cooking is one of the leading causes of residential fires. But don’t despair: you don’t have to give up on your dreams of being Top Chef to keep your beloved safe. Use these tips to make sure your dinner goes off without a hitch:
- Clean your oven and stove first. Butter, oil and grease residue can easily catch fire.
- Remove flammable items from the stove or cook top. Dishtowels, paper towels and shopping bags could otherwise ignite.
- Have a large lid or metal cooking sheet by your cooktop. Smother any pan flare ups or flames with the lid while protecting your hand in a gloved potholder.
- DO NOT use water (or snow) to douse a cooktop fire. Oil and water do not mix, and serious burns can result.
- Always remain in the kitchen when frying, broiling or grilling.
- Keep any pets (or children if this is a family event) at least three feet away from any cooking surface.
- If you must leave the kitchen when cooking, turn off the stove or set a timer to remind you to check the food often.
- Use battery-operated flames.
Give these fire safety conversation hearts to the ones you love this Valentine’s Day.
Test it for the one you love
It may not be terribly romantic, but true love means regularly testing your smoke alarm. Nothing says “I love you” more than a combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarm with a long-lasting battery life.
All teasing aside, smoke/carbon monoxide alarms are critical to your safety. Roughly three out of every five fire deaths happen in homes without alarms or where they are not working. They should be installed in each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on each level of a residence.
The Seattle Fire Department installs free smoke/carbon monoxide alarms to qualifying Seattle homeowners: live in the city of Seattle; own and live in your home; and identify as a senior or live on a low income or have a disability. This includes strobe smoke alarms for those with hearing loss.
Contact us at 206-386-1337 or complete this online form.