Your kitchen should be a place of comfort—not chaos. If you are a homeowner who has experienced a grease fire, then you know how terrifying it can be to see your kitchen go up in flames. Luckily, your kitchen is not a total loss with Same Day Restoration.
Before we get into the thick of this article, we want to let you know that you should always call your local fire department no matter how small the fire is. There are common places where a fire can occur, but a kitchen fire is very common. Now, let’s discuss what not to do and what to do after a kitchen fire.
What Not To Do After A Small Kitchen Fire
Letting soot linger after a kitchen fire can cause breathing problems for you and your household. An odorless gas called “smoke residue” can lead to illness and even death if soot isn’t cleaned up right away. If you have soot stains, call your local restoration company for help.
4 Tips to Prevent Cooking Fires
A fire is a fire, regardless of the kitchen size.
These four tips can be applied to all types of kitchens to prevent fires.
Keep Space Heaters at Least 3 Feet Away
Space heaters can burn curtains, dishcloths, and furniture if left unattended. Ensure that your space heater is at least three feet away from flammable objects and that you turn it off when not in use.
Never Leave Your Cooking Unattended
If you are using the stove or oven, never leave your cooking out of sight. Fires can spark in the blink of an eye, so make sure you moderate the heat from start to finish.
Keep Non-Stick Pans Away from High Heat
Home cooks across the country love using non-stick pans. But did you know that non-stick pans can catch fire if they’re being used at a high temperature? When it comes to cooking eggs and pancakes, stick to medium heat.
Ensure All Gas Stoves Have a Shut-Off Valve
Stoves in newer homes typically have a shut-off valve. If you live in an older home built before 1970, chances are you don’t. In this case, you’ll want to use a small fire extinguisher for kitchen fires.
What To Do After a Small Kitchen Fire
After the fire is extinguished and the smoke settles, you’ll want to follow the right safety precautions. A good rule of thumb is to not touch anything unless it’s safe to do so.
Follow these steps after you’ve suffered a small kitchen fire:
Check On Your Household 
The first thing you should do after you’ve extinguished a small fire is to check on everyone who was involved. Make sure your household is okay. If anyone in your home has suffered from inhalation, call 911. Don’t touch any charred areas unless your local fire department says otherwise.
Call 911
Inhaling smoke causes serious health problems. If your roommates or family members have inhaled smoke—no matter how little—call 911 right away. Breathing in smoke and soot can cause chest pain, coughing, and shortness of breath.
Contact Same Day Restoration
Once you’ve made sure your household is okay, contact Same Day Restoration to start the fire restoration process. The sooner we are able to clean smoke and soot out of your home, the better. We have a 24/7 emergency response team equipped to clean up kitchen fires of all sizes.
Is a Stove Safe to Use After a Fire?
This depends on the severity of the damage of the small kitchen fire. If our technicians say that your stove is not safe to use, then you should not use it. In this case, you may have to get your stove repaired or replaced altogether. Using an oven can also increase the risk of a second fire after the initial ignition.
Don’t Handle Fire Damage Alone—Call Us Instead
Leave the cleanup to Same Day Restoration. Our fire damage restoration technicians bring your kitchen back to its pre-loss condition through our five-step process. From inspection and board ups to smoke elimination and reconstruction, you can count on us to cover all grounds. Call us today, and we’ll be on your property in less than an hour.
