Forgotten food on the stove – a cause of fires!

Food left unattended on the stove is a common reason for rescuers to be called out. The cause of food burning on the stove is ordinary human negligence.

Food left unattended on the stove is a common reason for rescuers to be called out. The cause of food burning on the stove is ordinary human negligence.

A pot or pan is placed on the stove and forgotten: people fall asleep from fatigue or while intoxicated, and sometimes even leave the house. Often, after putting food on the stove, a person may consciously go to the grocery store to buy a missing ingredient.

Initial information for calls of this nature usually comes from neighbours who complain about the smell of burning or smoke in the stairwell. If there is an autonomous smoke detector in the premises, it will activate upon the appearance of smoke, thereby warning of danger. If there is no smoke detector, a serious fire can develop from food forgotten on the stove. If all adverse conditions coincide, the entire house or apartment can burn down.

The smell of burning or smoke is the first sign that something is burning somewhere. Quick action can help when food is burning: go to the kitchen, turn off the stove, and cover the burnt food or oil with a lid. This will lower the temperature, and the lid will prevent oxygen from entering, which will stop the burning. Then, ventilate the rooms. It is more difficult when the fire is already large and it is dangerous to approach it. In that case, you should close the kitchen door, close the windows if possible, leave the apartment, and call for help on number "101" or "112".

If you have a gas stove at home or cook food over an open flame, your clothing, especially if made of synthetic material, also poses a danger. If your clothes catch fire, you can suffer fatal burns.

If you smell burning coming from the stairwell, or hear an autonomous smoke detector beeping somewhere, try to find out where the smell or signal is coming from. Sometimes, knocking on a neighbour's door is enough to wake up a sleeping neighbour, thereby preventing the worst. However, of course, if you are unsure or do not know how to react to a particular danger signal, you should call "101" or "112".

And remember – your vigilance is the key to your safety!