Kitchen Fire Recovery Guide

How To Recover From a Kitchen Fire In Your Home

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Published on May 06th, 2023

Joel Efosa

Author | Real Estate Investor



Lets Give You A Way Out

Doors and windows can play a crucial role in ventilation after a fire, and having a functional smoke alarm can alert you early on to potential dangers in the kitchen. Some common kitchen appliances, like a toaster, refrigerator, microwave, and sink, should be positioned and used with caution, with flammable items kept away from heat sources. Regular maintenance and cleaning of kitchen counters can also prevent the build-up of grease, which contributes to fires.


There are companies like ourselves that buy houses, including homes that have been affected by fire damage from cooking fires. After you meticulously follow all the crucial steps in this guide, feel free to request a cash offer if you decide not to rebuild the property, which, in most cases, is a lot harder and more stressful than you might assume. In these situations, professionals can take care of the entire process, from purchasing the damaged property to dealing with the aftermath.



Lets Get into It

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), kitchen fires from unattended cooking or cooking oils are among the most common home fires in homes. And while cooking is the leading cause of kitchen fires, oven fires, microwaves, and ranges aren't the only sources of danger. Kitchen fires can also be caused by using the wrong fuel for a stovetop appliance, leaving food unattended on the stove, or improperly storing flammable materials. Regardless of how your kitchen fire starts, it's important to know how to extinguish it and deal with the aftermath.

Why Do Kitchen Fires Start?

Fires in the kitchen don't just occur by chance - there's usually a reason for them. Some of the most common causes of kitchen fires include grease fires, stovetop fires, electrical fires, and house fires. Other common causes of kitchen fires include:


How to Prevent Fires When Cooking

1) Call the local fire department.

There are a few things you can do to prevent kitchen fires when cooking:


  1. Stay in the kitchen: Don't leave cooking food on the stovetop or oven.
  2. Watch what you're cooking: Keep an eye on pots and pans to ensure the food doesn't start to smoke or burn.
  3. Use the right type of pot: Don't use a pot that's too small for the burner.
  4. Turn off the stovetop: Turn off the stove if you have to leave the kitchen.
  5. Don't overload electrical outlets: Don't plug in too many appliances into one outlet.
  6. Use the right type of pot: Don't use a pot that's too small for the burner.
  7. Turn off the stovetop: Turn off the stove if you have to leave the kitchen.
  8. Don't overload electrical outlets:

Can it be safe to use dishes after a house fire?

A kitchen fire can be a major issue, posing risks to the fixtures and causing damage like stains. There's a possibility the kitchen will survive if it's put out fast, and it might even look clean again after some cleaning! The most critical step is to ensure that all the soot or exhaust particles have been removed from the top to the floor by a professional service like Servicemaster. Otherwise, your home will be overwhelmed with the unpleasant smell of smoke odor.

What to do if Food in Oven Catches Fire

If food catches on fire while cooking in the oven, turn off the heat immediately and do not open the oven door - keep the door closed. Let the fire go out naturally–if it doesn't, call 911 and leave your home; if the fire burns out, open the window, and remove the hot pan from the oven with oven mitts once completely cooled.

How to Extinguish a Cooking Fire

If you see a fire in your pan while cooking, cover it with the lid to prevent oxygen from getting into the flames. Turn the flame off as quickly as possible, so don't hold anything until it's cool. When dealing with a grease-based fire, be careful about using water. It can cause the hot liquid to splash out onto other areas, spreading the fire.


It would help if you always had a fire extinguisher nearby. Quite a few kitchen fires involve grease, gasoline, and oil, so pouring water on them will worsen. You can easily put out the flames with the help of a fire extinguisher. It's important to keep it out of the way of the stove, but it should also be conveniently accessible from the range.


You can even continue using your grill after you'd used a fire extinguisher on it.

Four Steps To Follow If You Experience A Kitchen Fire:

  • When recovering from a home kitchen fire, even a small fire, be sure to follow these simple steps: 
  • -Stop, drop, and roll if your clothes are on fire 
  • -Call the fire department 
  • -If possible, extinguish the flames with a fire extinguisher 
  • -Avoid using water to put out a grease fire 
  • -Treat any injuries and seek medical attention if necessary

How to Assessing A Kitchen Fire Damage

It's critical to remember three things if you're in the middle of a disaster.


Capture Images

Take pictures and make notes of anything that has been damaged, such as moldy walls and odors on floors, so that your insurance provider may file any claims that are required.


Call Your Insurance Company

Call them immediately and explain the situation; it will help them move the process along as rapidly as possible!


Clean-Up Later

You should avoid cleaning up any kitchen fire damage until you have spoken with your insurance agent. If cleaning can't be avoided, be cautious during the process, and consider using a TSP and bleach solution while wearing rubber gloves to protect your hands. They may want to investigate the scene, including the ceilings, floor, and surfaces, before deciding whether or not you're covered. Leaving the damage untouched could hinder your claim if something is missed during the assessment, especially in the event of a small kitchen fire. This includes hidden issues with the HVAC system, dust and soot accumulation in corners, and potential damage to your ductwork.

How to Recover From a Kitchen Fire at Home

A kitchen fire can be a major issue, posing risks to the fixtures and causing damage like stains. There's a possibility the kitchen will survive if it's put out fast, and it might even look clean again after some cleaning! The most critical step is to ensure that all the soot or exhaust particles have been removed from the top to the floor by a professional service like Servicemaster. Otherwise, your home will be overwhelmed with the unpleasant smell of smoke odor.


The following is some advice and procedures on how to do kitchen fire cleanup:


  • Always wear protective gear when cleaning up after a fire.
  • Keep the windows open to allow smoke to leave and the room to be ventilated.
  • Contaminated food, particularly cardboard food, should be discarded.
  • Cleaning the insides of the kitchen cabinets is a must.
  • Remove kitchen drawers and cabinets to gain access to the interior space. Wipe down stainless steel appliances and other metallic surfaces.
  • Replace your air filters as necessary.
  • Remember to make sure you didn't lose any important documents

Is it Safe to Use a Stove After a Fire?

After putting out a kitchen stove fire with a smoke detector, you must carefully clean the equipment to ensure its safety. Clean the stove outside while wearing goggles to protect your eyes from dust and debris. Following a fire, clean all appliance sections, including the front glass door and window, to ensure it is entirely free of debris and grime. You may need to use a solvent to remove any remaining soot. Keep a close eye out for holes or cracks in the outside casing of your stove and arrange for repairs if necessary.


After a grease fire, you may be able to use your stove again – but it's important to make sure it's free of any residue first. Grease fires can cause a lot of damage, so it's best to be safe and have it inspected by a professional.

Is Oven Safe To Use After Fire?

After an oven fire, the first thing you may worry about is whether the oven is safe to use. You'll need to check a few things and do some tasks to find out.


In most cases, using a fire extinguisher to put out an oven fire will not ruin the oven. However, it would help if you used a good home-rated fire extinguisher capable of putting out an oven fire. Furthermore, keep in mind that if you're working with a grease or oil fire, the fire will behave differently from other flammable items like cloth or paper.


Furthermore, you must act quickly after controlling the oven fire and cooling it down. Remove the chemical residue from the extinguisher from the oven. Because the longer you wait, the more the chemical remains of the extinguisher will destroy your oven.


As a result, the chemical residue reaction is more suitable to standard dry chemical fire extinguishers than CO2 fire extinguishers. As a result, wash the chemicals from the oven properly and neatly (direct skin exposure to the chemicals can be quite harmful).

How do I wash an oven after a little fire?

  • Baking soda and water can be used to wash/clean the oven.
  • Make a thick paste of water and baking soda, then pour baking soda on the oven.
  • Scrub the oven with a scrubber. 
  • Use vinegar after washing away the baking soda.

Is it reasonable for a fire to start in a dirty oven?

If left unattended, the residual grime and dirt can cause a fire. Even while oven fires are often tiny, the smoke alone can potentially cost hundreds of dollars in damage to your home.

How to Deal with the Aftermath of a Kitchen Fire

If your kitchen catches fire, there's going to be some damage. Here are a few things you can do to deal with the aftermath of a fire or fire spreads:


Call your insurance carrier to report the incident and file a claim.

Get a contractor: You'll need to hire someone to repair the damage.

Clean up the mess: Once the contractor is finished, you'll need to clean up the mess. It can be a lot of work, so you may want to call a professional cleaning service.

Selling a House After a Kitchen Fire

Imagine your kitchen being reduced to ruins by a fire, leaving you overwhelmed and uncertain about the future of your house. In such a situation, you may turn to the internet, searching for guidance on whether to sell your house after a fire, and that's where we come in. Our expertise lies in taking charge of fire-damaged properties, addressing issues like mold, walls, odors, and floors, making the process stress-free for you. On the other hand, if you are keen on exploring effective strategies to sell a fire damaged home and salvage the value of your property, Selling a fire damaged house: Important considerations, this comprehensive guide is here to assist you every step of the way.

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