There tends to be a greater risk of a fire occurring in your kitchen than in other rooms in your home given that's where you cook and that's the room that likely has the largest appliances. It's easy to leave your cooker on or to miss that your fridge or dishwasher is overheating. Additionally, when you don't follow maintenance instructions carefully, such as keeping the filter of your tumble dryer clean or placing household items too close to appliances that can generate heat, the risk of a fire breaking out increases. Space can be tight in modern kitchens with lots of gadgets competing for a place on the countertop or in the cupboard, but it's wise to prioritise storing some fire safety equipment so that you're prepared for the worst-case scenario.

Here is some fire equipment every kitchen should have.

Multipurpose Fire Extinguisher

You don't need to have several different types of fire extinguishers in your kitchen. You can purchase a multipurpose fire extinguisher that's suitable for use on most types of fires including electrical fires. Having a fire extinguisher can help you tackle small fires and prevent fires from spreading, and they can also allow you to clear the way to exit the property in the event of a fire.

Heat Alarm

Unlike a smoke alarm, a heat alarm doesn't go off when you burn the toast. They are designed to activate when rapid heat changes are detected, so they are ideal for kitchens and can alert you quickly when an appliance overheats or when any material ignites. Modern heat alarms can be linked to other alarms in your home, so you if you have one in your bedroom it will also sound and wake you up if your kitchen heat alarm is activated.

Fire Blanket

A fire blanket is one of the most versatile pieces of fire safety equipment and takes up little space in a kitchen. You can use it to put out a pan fire or it can be wrapped around you or a family member to afford you some protection when you need to exit the property through flames. Fire blankets are commonly hung on the wall near the cooker, but they can be stored anywhere that allows for quick and easy access.

Kitchen fires can occur for a number of reasons, but it's wise to do what you can to minimise the risk of a fire breaking out in your kitchen. Keep pot handles turned inward away from the edge of the cooker to prevent hot oil from being knocked over, keep vents clear and if you have any appliances that you suspect aren't working as they should, have them looked at by an experienced repair person.