COOKING SAFETY
National Fire Protection Association
In 2010, cooking was involved in an estimated 156,400 home structure fires that were reported to the U.S. fire departments. These fires caused 410 deaths, 5,310 injuries and $993 million direct property damage. Cooking caused 44% of reported home fires, 16% of home fire deaths, 40% of home fire injuries, and 15% of direct property damage in 2010.
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​Facts & figures
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Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in these fires.
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Two-thirds (66%) of home cooking fire started with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.
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Clothing was the item first ignited in less than 1% of these fires, but these incidents accounted 14% of the cooking fire deaths.
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Ranges accounted for the largest share (58%) of home cooking fire incidents. Ovens accounted for 16%.
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Three of every five (58%) reported non-fatal home cooking fire injuries occurred when the victims tried to fight the fire themselves.
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Frying poses the greatest risk of fire.
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Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires
​​​​More information is available through the National Fire Protection Association at www.nfpa.org​​​​​