Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and fire injuries. Prime
culprits for cooking fires include: food left unattended during cooking,
appliances left on after cooking is completed, grease or combustible
materials landing on hot burners, and grease accumulating in range
hoods. Fortunately, a number of safety devices and appliance features
can minimize your risk of fire while cooking and help you extinguish
a small fire in your kitchen.
Always purchase appliances that are listed with Underwriters Laboratories
(UL), an independent, not-for-profit product safety testing and
certification organization.
Auto Shut-Off Toaster Oven
The automatic shut-off feature can minimize the risk of fire if
cooking food is left unattended and continues to heat. Some models
have cool-touch exteriors that prevent burns.
[$80 - $200] See
Suppliers
Auto Shut-Off Coffee Maker
The automatic shut-off feature limits the risk of fire if liquid
in the glass carafe boils dry. Models will vary in the length of
time the warmer plate operates before the appliance turns off.
[$20 - $200] See
Suppliers
 Cordless
Teakettle
This cordless teakettle minimizes the use of the stove, reducing
the risk of fire. The automatic shut-off feature is available on
some models.
[$38 - $133] See
Suppliers
Electric Grill and Electric Skillet
These appliances reduce the need to use the stove and offer greater
heat control, minimizing fire risks.
[$35 - $140] See
Suppliers
These devices and features can minimize the risk of stove and range
fires:
 Steam
Release Cookware Lids
A special knob on the lid automatically vents steam to prevent boil-overs
that can cause fires.
[$12 - $21] See
Suppliers
Heat-Resistant Spatula
This spatula will not melt or ignite nearby items if you leave it
in a pan on your stove, minimizing the potential for cooking-related
fires.
[$10] See
Suppliers
Oven Mitts
Some oven mitts are treated with fire-retardant chemicals, making
them less likely to catch fire if they touch a hot burner. Other
mitts have barriers to insulate against heat, helping to protect
against burns. Some products combine these features.
[$2 - $20] See
Suppliers
Grease Splatter Guard
The guard fits over a frying pan to prevent grease from splattering
onto burners where it could catch fire.
[$3 - $20] See
Suppliers
 Heat
Diffuser
By controlling flames from a gas stove or heat from an electric
stove, this item reduces the potential that long sleeves could catch
fire from contact with the burner. It also can help prevent boil-overs,
breakage and scorching.
[$3] See
Supplier
Hood/Vent Cleaner
This easy-to-use spray dissolves grease in hoods, vents and filters,
reducing the potential for fire.
[$6 ] See
Supplier
These devices install inside the range hood with a magnet and automatically
dispense an extinguishing agent to put out small fires while signaling
with a loud alarm that a fire is in process. Products vary widely
with regard to the technology, the type of extinguishing agent they
use, and the type of fire they can extinguish.
 Guardian
III™
When triggered by heat, this unit dispenses an extinguishing agent
to put out small fires, including grease fires. This unit, which
also turns off the gas or electric range to eliminate the heat source
to the fire, can be recharged after each use. It is UL-listed and
can be connected to your home security monitoring system.
[$495] See
Suppliers
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Flamebuster I
When heat activates this unit, it dispenses an extinguishing
agent that absorbs combustible gases and smothers the flames.
[$69] See
Suppliers |
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 StoveTop
FireStop™
When flames on the stove top reach the device installed above each
pair of burners, an extinguishing agent is released. This product
is not intended for fires caused by deep-fat frying.
[$49 per pair] See
Suppliers
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