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Most housefires start in the kitchen: how and why they happen

Love it or hate it, cooking is an unavoidable day-to-day task for most people. It’s also one of the most dangerous.
Kitchens are the most common location for fires to start in the home, with cooking being one of the leading causes.
In the decade from January 2012 to December 2021, the Country Fire Association (CFA) responded to more than 15,000 residential fires. Of those, 35 per cent of fires that didn’t result in serious injury or death started in the kitchen, with cooking being the leading cause of all fires throughout the home.
Kitchen fires can cause serious damage to your home as well as injury.
While it’s easy to be complacent in the kitchen, there are a few ways to help prevent fires and make sure both you and your food don’t get burnt.
Common causes of kitchen fires
Cooking is the primary action causing fires to start in the kitchen, but it’s not the only catalyst.
There are often several sources of heat within a typical kitchen, and these can lead to fires igniting.
Ovens and stovetops are one source of heat, but toasters, faulty and frayed wiring, even overloaded power points are capable of starting fires.
The CFA notes that unattended cooking is major cause of fires igniting in the home, and that most cooking fires they attended occurred between 6pm and 7pm.

Many kids enjoy helping out in the kitchen but it's important they're supervised at all times. Photo: Getty.
7 tips to reduce the risk of a kitchen fire

Keeping your stove clean and free of grease can help prevent fires in the kitchen. Photo: Getty.
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