Electrical Safety Authority reminds everyone to "look while you cook" to prevent kitchen fires

Ontario Electrical Safety Report findings support Fire Prevention Week's focus on preventing kitchen fires

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 7, 2013 /CNW/ - Each year there are an average of more than 700 electric stove-top fires in homes across the province according to a recent report released by the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). While the number of incidents has decreased in the last decade by 35 per cent, the Ontario Electrical Safety Report reveals that more than 130 Ontarians are hurt and three are killed each year on average due to cooking fires.

The leading cause of these fires is leaving a stove-top unattended while cooking and the data show that certain kinds of stoves increase the risk.

"Traditional electric stoves with coil elements can heat up to a much higher temperature - more than 700 degrees Celsius - than gas and other types of electric stoves," explains ESA's Chief Public Safety Officer Scott Saint. "If you have this kind of appliance, it's critical to take extra care. Regardless of what kind of stove you have, always 'look while you cook'."

This year's Fire Prevention Week focuses on kitchen fires, and ESA is joining the Fire Marshal's Office to encourage all Ontarians to remember these tips to cook safely:

• Stay in the kitchen and look while you cook!
• Keep children away from hot stove-tops.
• Drink responsibly when cooking.
• If a fire occurs, get out immediately and call 911.

For more information on how to prevent kitchen fires, go to www.esasafe.com.

The annual Ontario Electrical Safety Report has been produced by the ESA for more than a decade to provide a comprehensive assessment of electrical fatalities and incidents in Ontario. Based on information from various sources, including investigations and root-cause analysis, the data allows ESA to direct resources where they are needed and where safety challenges are greatest.

The Electrical Safety Authority
The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) is an administrative authority acting on behalf of the Government of Ontario with specific responsibilities under the Electricity Act and the Safety and Consumer Statutes Administration Act.  As part of its mandate, ESA is responsible for administering regulation in four key areas: the Ontario Electrical Safety Code; licensing of Electrical Contractors and Master Electricians; electrical distribution safety; and electrical product safety.

QUICK FACTS:

• More than 700 residential electric stove-top fires occur each year on average in Ontario. The leading cause is cooking left unattended.
• Cooking-related fires continue to be the most common type of residential electrical fire
• Cooking equipment has been identified as the leading source of preventable home injuries, and the second leading source of preventable residential fire fatalities.
• Stove-top fires account for the majority of cooking fires.  Other causes include products such as ovens, microwaves and electric frying pans.
• Approved cooking products bear the symbol of a certified product testing agency that has been accredited by the Standards Council of Canada.  Go to www.esasafe.com/electricalproducts/marks to view these symbols.

SOURCE: Electrical Safety Authority

Kara Fraser
Electrical Safety Authority
905-712-5387/ [email protected]