The London Fire Department is again sounding the alarm over a growing number of kitchen fires in the city.
Firefighters have been called to eight cooking related fires since the start of the year, double the amount they responded to over a two month period at the end of 2016.
Fire officials said Thursday the recent rash of cooking fires has resulted in roughly $200,000 in damages and multiple injuries. A blaze involving cooking oil at a Trafalgar St. home left an individual with second degree burns to their hands. Another person suffered smoke inhalation and minor burns to their face and hands in a cooking fire at a Horton St. apartment.
“Cooking, particularly unattended or distracted cooking, is the number one cause of fires in the City of London," said Deputy Fire Chief Brian McLaughlin. “It is also the focus for an intensifying advertising campaign which attempts to drive home the message that cooking can be dangerous if left unmonitored. Fire Prevention Inspectors and Public Educators are working hard to convince people to stay in close proximity to their cooking, to supervise their cooking, and to remain attentive when cooking. We strongly discourage people to not engage in cooking activities while impaired or sleepy.”
Fire officials are urging people to pay attention while preparing food, do not leave pots unattended on the stove, and if a small fire does occur, slide a lid onto the pot to smother the fire and call 911.
Home owners are also reminded that every house is required by law to have a working smoke alarm on every storey, and near sleeping areas. The fire department advises to check smoke alarms monthly, exchange batteries annually, and replace smoke alarms if they are expired.