According to a recent study by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking is the No. 1 cause of reported home fires and home fire injuries.

In addition to providing comprehensive business property, liability, and income insurance solutions, Millers Mutual is here to help you proactively protect your tenants and rental units with discounted fire prevention products and vital tips.

Understand the Perils

As the NFPA study points out, cooking is such a routine activity that it’s easy to forget that high temperatures can easily start fires.

From 2017 to 2021, cooking caused an average of 158,000 reported home structure fires per year, accounting for 44% of all fires and 42% of all fire injuries. Of those cooking-related fires – which resulted in over $1 billion in direct property damage – unattended kitchen equipment was by far the leading factor. It’s not surprising, then, that the peak days for cooking fires are Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, when there’s not only more food preparation than usual, but also many more distractions.

Further, some appliances were much more prone to fire than others: indoor grills, deep fryers, and other portable units were associated with the most severe incidents, while ovens posed the least risk. Households with electric ranges were also 2.5 times more likely to report a fire than those with gas ranges, largely because it’s harder to tell if an electric burner is on or off.

Stay Safe with StoveTop FireStop

As a landlord, it’s essential to warn your tenants about the dangers of leaving kitchen appliances unattended. But there’s always some risk of human error or equipment malfunction. That’s why Millers Mutual is proud to partner with StoveTop FireStop to offer preferred pricing on three different products that will automatically put out cooking fires before they can cause bodily harm and property damage:

• The StoveTop FireStop Rangehood is mounted 24 to 35 inches above the cooking surface and automatically releases fire-suppressing powder if flames make contact with the underside of the canister.
• The StoveTop FireStop LowPro is designed to be concealed under an over-the-stove microwave or a modern flat-bottom ventilation hood.
• The StoveTop FireStop Microhood attaches to the underside of an over-the-stove microwave and contains two canisters per unit, providing designated protection for each burner on the stove.

These devices, costing as little as $56.95 per pair, have spared our policyholders from the significant time, money, and stress of handling large fire-related losses. In two recent cases, StoveTop FireStop products quickly extinguished unattended cooking fires, limiting damages to between $5,000 and $10,000. Without these devices, the fires could have activated the sprinkler systems, resulting in damages of $50,000 to $100,000, displacing tenants and requiring months of costly reconstruction. By preventing a larger fire, landlords avoided the hassle of finding temporary housing for tenants, managing a lengthy rebuilding process, and navigating a much more complex insurance claim.

Share Preparedness Tips

Give your tenants a copy of these 10 cooking fire safety action items adapted from the American Red Cross – or consider making the list an addendum to your lease:

1. Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food.
2. Remain at home and set a timer when using the oven or microwave.
3. Avoid wearing loose clothing and dangling sleeves while cooking.
4. Keep combustible materials like wrappers away from heat sources.
5. Prevent children from running or playing around the stove.
6. Clean all cooking surfaces regularly to prevent grease buildup.
7. Put a fire extinguisher in your kitchen and know how to use it.
8. Check to make sure that all appliances are off before going to bed.
9. Ensure that there’s a smoke alarm installed on each living level.
10. Test each smoke alarm monthly and replace batteries yearly.

Check Your Coverage

Learn more about our rental property insurance solutions and reach out to your Millers Mutual agent to make sure you have the right policies in place.