Every year, fire departments respond to more than 170,000 home fires caused by cooking. The top reason for these fires is someone leaving the stove unattended while cooking.
Cooking. Unattended cooking is listed as the number one cause of residential fires.
Cooking caused an average of 172,900 reported home structure fires per year (49 percent of all reported home fires in the US).
Refrigerators. Did you know that refrigerators are actually the most common fire-causing appliance in the U.S.? You can blame the fact that refrigerators run all day and night, leading to tired old relay switches and worn-out compressors, both of which are serious fire risks.
On average, fire departments in the U.S. respond to an average of 471 cooking-related fires every day, according to the National Fire Prevention Association.
In 2021, fire departments in the United States responded to an estimated 170,000 home cooking fires. These fires caused an estimated 135 deaths, 3,000 injuries and over $494 million in property loss.
Leaving Food Unattended
Unattended cooking is the leading cause of most kitchen fires.
One of the most common causes of electrical fires is faulty wiring. This can happen when wires are not properly installed or maintained, and they can start to overheat and catch fire.
Unattended cooking is the leading factor in home cooking fires. Ranges accounted for the largest share of home cooking fire incidents. Frying poses the greatest risk of fire.
Nearly half of all house fires in recent years have started in the kitchen. Cooking appliances and tools can ignite fires and certain foods and ingredients help flames spread. Cooking oils, like citrus oil, are extremely flammable and can be hazardous if used improperly.
Whilst they can start naturally, see Information note - Wildfire, it is estimated that 90% of all wildfires across the globe are caused by humans. About 30% of those are started as a deliberate act of arson, whilst 70% are started accidentally or as a direct result of human carelessness.
Where are home fires most likely to start? Home fires are more likely to start in the kitchen than any other room in the home. The second leading cause of home fires are heating sources like wood stoves, and fireplaces. Fires caused by smoking are the leading cause of deaths.
Why do house fires happen at night? House fires usually occur during the evening hours when people are asleep. The main cause of house fires is electrical malfunctions.
Instead, you can reach for two pantry staples to help douse a small grease fire safely: Baking soda is effective because it releases carbon dioxide when heated, which can smother the fire. Salt forms a barrier between the fire and the air.
Cooking equipment is one of the leading causes of residential fires. Unattended cooking, grease buildup, and flammable objects left too close to heat sources can ignite fires.
Cooking Fires
The #1 cause of house fires, accounting for 42% of reported incidents, is cooking.
According to NFPA, stovetops are among the most dangerous appliances in any household, causing 62 percent of all house fires and 87 percent of household fire deaths. The next most dangerous is ovens, which account for 16 percent of house fires and 4 percent of house fire deaths.
Cooking Fires
By far, the most common reason for a house fire is cooking. In fact, the NFPA states that 48% of house fires start in the kitchen. Pots and pans most often catch fire when the person using them leaves the room. If you have a gas stove, you need to be extra careful about having that open flame.
Any electrical appliance that is left plugged in to the mains could cause a fire. Some appliances like fridges and freezers are designed to be left on, but even these can cause fires if they are not used properly.
Arcs, flashes of light or showers of sparks anywhere in the electrical system. Sizzles and buzzes; unusual sounds from the electrical system. Overheating wires giving off an odor of hot insulation; switch plates or receptacle covers that are hot to the touch or discolored from heat buildup.
Grease is one of the most dangerous fire hazards in kitchens because of how quickly it can build up from a day's use and how flammable it is if a fire were to break out.
Frying. The NFPA didn't release any official statistics related to frying, but the organization did point out that frying foods “dominates the cooking fire problem.” Any time you decide to fry food, you need to be very careful because hot oil can cause big problems for those working in the kitchen.
Fire damage restoration costs vary widely based on the fire's severity and affected areas. Most property owners spend between $3,137 and $51,541, with the national average at $27,258. If your house catches fire due to an unfortunate event, the cleanup can be overwhelming.