Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

As the weather gets colder, families often turn to hot meals for comfort and warmth, with steaming dishes becoming a staple of the season. However, cooking with stovetop flames can quickly become dangerous if proper precautions aren’t taken. Taipei City Fire Department urges everyone to make kitchen safety a priority by following the "Turn Off the Stove Before Leaving" rule and installing residential fire alarms to reduce the risk of fires at home.

Statistics from the Fire Department over the past six years (December-February every year) the most cause of fires has been stove cooking, and the most common cause of fires caused by stove cooking is "people forget to cook at home or go out."indicate that many fire-related fatalities stemming from stovetop cooking were caused by unattended flames or flammable materials placed too close to heat sources. Grease fires were the leading cause of injuries. An analysis of these incidents reveals that delays in evacuation and improper fire suppression methods often played a significant role in the resulting casualties.

The Fire Department emphasizes the importance of adopting safe cooking practices, particularly the rule to "Turn Off the Stove Before Leaving." In the event of a grease fire, the gas supply should be turned off immediately, and the flames should be smothered with a lid. Under no circumstances should water be used to extinguish a grease fire, as it may exacerbate the situation. Furthermore, the year-end cleaning season is an opportune time to address grease buildup in range hoods and exhaust ducts, especially in food service establishments where grease accumulates more rapidly. Cleaning schedules should be adjusted based on usage frequency.

To enhance fire prevention, residents are urged to install residential fire alarms that detect smoke or high temperatures and issue timely alerts. Flammable items should be kept at a safe distance from stovetops, and households are encouraged to use appliances equipped with flame failure devices or temperature sensors. These safety features automatically shut off the gas supply if the flame is extinguished or the temperature becomes dangerously high.

In the event of a fire, the Fire Department strongly underscores the importance of prioritizing evacuation over attempting to retrieve belongings or pets, as personal safety must always come first. By following these precautions, we can work together to create a safer environment.