Health & Fitness
Cooking Can Be Hazardous to Your Health
Cooking is the leading cause of both one- and two-family buildings fires.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) United States Fire Administration (USFA) announced a report on the causes and characteristics of fires in one- and two-family buildings. One- and two-family residential buildings include detached dwellings, manufactured homes, mobile homes not in transit and duplexes.
An estimated 248,500 fires in one- and two-family residential buildings occur each year in the United States. Annually, these fires are responsible for 2,135 civilian fire deaths, 8,550 civilian fire injuries and $5.9 billion in property loss.
Cooking is the leading cause of both one- and two-family buildings fires, followed by heating. Fires peak over the evening dinner hours in one- and two-family residences when cooking fires are prevalent.
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So what's this mean for you Malibu?
- Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Batteries should be changed regularly— it's recommended that the beginning/end of Daylight Saving Time is a good way to remember to change them.
- Buy and learn how to use fire extinguishers and learn which ones work on what kind of fires. You can practice at the upcoming , where fire extinguisher demonstrations will take place.
- Join Malibu CERT, where you will learn many important emergency preparedness ideas.
- Never leave burning candles unattended.
- Extinguish cigarettes and cigars fully—run them under water to be sure they are out.
- Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking.
- Keep cooking mitts, towels and curtains away from heated surfaces.
