Crime & Safety

West Orange FD: How to Prevent Kitchen Fires

Two of every five home fires begin in the kitchen — more than any other place in the home.

The West Orange Fire Department has joined up the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association with to help residents prevent kitchen fires as this year's fire campaign

According to the latest NFPA research, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire-related injuries. Two of every five home fires begin in the kitchen — more than any other place in the home. 

"Often when we're called to a fire that started in the kitchen, the residents tell us that they only left the kitchen for a few minutes," said Fire Chief Peter A. Smeraldo. "Sadly, that's all it takes for a dangerous fire to start. We hope that Fire Prevention Week will help us reach folks in the community before they've suffered a damaging lesson.” 

local firefighters and safety advocates offer the following tips for residents:
  • Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, broiling, or boiling food.
  • If you must leave the room, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
  • When you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home and use a timer to remind you.
  • If you have young children, use the stove’s back burners whenever possible. Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the stove.
  • When you cook, wear clothing with tight-fitting sleeves.
  • Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels and anything else that can burn, away from your stovetop.
  • Clean up food and grease from burners and stovetops.

Find out what's happening in West Orangewith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.