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Shield Your Kitchen From The Top Four Fire Threats

kitchen-fire

Fires in eating and drinking establishments in the U.S. cause injuries, deaths and millions of dollars of property damage every year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Recognize National Fire Prevention month by making fire prevention strategies top of mind for kitchen managers and chefs.

Avoid these top four threats we often see in the field:

#1: Irregular (or Lack of) Cleaning

Cleaning commercial kitchen equipment every day can be a tedious process, but it is critical to fire prevention. Exhaust ducts will collect grease, which can affect the ventilation of the kitchen hood and cause a fire.

When first installing the equipment, schedule additional preventative maintenance every six month, then increase or decrease maintenance based on equipment usage.

#2: Out of Sight, out of Mind

Because gas lines are almost always located out of sight, behind kitchen equipment, problems often go unnoticed until gas is leaking into the air. Avoid the problem by regularly moving kitchen equipment away from the wall to properly inspect and clean lines. Look for grease and food buildup, which deteriorate the lines.

Wall outlets and circuit breaker panels are also usually out of sight lines and need to be checked regularly. A good time to check outlets, which are susceptible to moisture and corrosion, is when kitchen equipment is already pulled out for a gas line check.

Circuit breaker panels should remain free of  obstruction by three to five feet. Typically located at the rear of the restaurant, they frequently become blocked by trash receptacles, products or other debris.

#3: Creating Carbon

Kitchen teams need to understand how to  properly dispose of grease buildup when cleaning flattop stoves or the inside of an oven. Grease that is scraped away into a tray or not cleaned immediately can harden into a carbon buildup that acts like charcoal, which can easily start a fire.

Oil in deep-vat-fryers, which becomes dirty from overuse, can also build up in the form of carbon. Prevent this by filtering the oil daily.

In the event of a fire due to oven spills, turn  off the oven and close the doors to suffocate the flames. Once cool, clean the oven thoroughly and properly dispose of the charred food.

#4 A Food Jam

We are often called to assist kitchen crews with conveyor toasters. Don’t make the common mistake of continuing t use the toaster without removing the jammed food, which is clearly a target for fires. Instead, unplug the device, let it cool and then remove the item. Never try to remove a food item while the equipment is still connected to the power source.

Don’t leave yourself vulnerable by neglecting fire threats. Maintain regular checkpoints and keep the above four factors front and center in your fire prevention plan.

For more information, contact Universal Fire Protection at 1.800.601.4663 and we’ll design a fire safety solution for your restaurant!

Content by Greg Meleney
Foodservice Equipment & Supplies • October 2016

Termac Corporation is a family-owned business serving the hospitality industry for more than 50 years with its cleaning and sanitation products. To meet the needs of this evolving market, it established a system of service and developed The FilterMan, GTO Grease Trap Services, Universal Fire Protection and AllPro Metal Fabrication.

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