SERVPRO of Crowley & South Johnson County highlights seven causes of commercial fire damage in restaurants. Every twelve minutes, a fire department responds to a report of a fire at a restaurant or drinking establishment. An industry source describes the situation in these terms: “According to figures provided by the National Fire Protection Association, fire departments across America responded to an average of 8,240 structure fires at eating and drinking establishments each year between 2012 and 2016. These fires resulted in two civilian deaths each year on average, along with 115 injuries and $246 million in property damage.”
Seven Causes of Commercial Fire Damage in Restaurants
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Failure to properly clean cooking equipment
Many of the most popular foods people love to eat in restaurants involve a cooking process that produces a large quantity of grease. This grease accumulates in the exhaust hood systems of these commercial kitchens. The cook line, exhaust hood, hood filters, exterior exhaust fan, and connecting ductwork present potential fire hazards for commercial kitchens.
If left unchecked, the grease buildup often leads to serious fire hazards. Food preparation and customer service should be top of mind for the restaurant owner or manager, not worrying about a fire hazard in the exhaust hood system or the grease trap.
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Misuse of cooking equipment
Cooking equipment accounts for six out of ten restaurant fires. Leading causes of cooking equipment fires are deep fryers (31%), ranges (18%), and grills (11%). Cooking equipment designed to be used in the home cannot stand up to the heavy demands of a commercial kitchen. The equipment quickly wears out and becomes a fire hazard. Commercial-grade deep fryers, electric frying pans, and ranges are manufactured to higher specifications enabling the equipment to withstand the daily, prolonged usage required in a commercial kitchen.
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Presence of flammable materials and substances in the kitchen
It comes as no surprise that the most common causes of major fires in restaurants involve cooking flames and flammable materials in the kitchen. Cooking oil and alcohol are leading contributors to kitchen fires. Foil, parchment, boxes, and paper packaging were the items that were first ignited in four out of ten restaurant fires.
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Gas leaks
When older or neglected cooking equipment cannot support current gas flows to a kitchen, gas leaks can occur. The leaking gas can explode when ignited. The electric arc from switching on an electrical device such as a lightbulb can ignite the leaking gas. A match or lighter, which are often used in preparing dishes, can also ignite loose gas.
A key indicator of a gas leak is the sulfuric or rotten egg smell. Another indicator of a gas leak is the color of the flame. A functioning system produces a sharp blue flame, while a system with a compromised flow of gas may produce a yellowish or orange flame. If pilot lights in gas stoves and ovens are unexplainably extinguished, a gas leak may be the cause. The gas may be escaping into another part of the stove or behind a wall. If the leak is immediately detected and resolved, an emergency fire damage disaster can be prevented.
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Electrical malfunction
The demands placed on commercial cooking equipment are heavy and ongoing. Over time the wiring and electrical components break down under the stressful wear and tear. Continuing to use older electrical equipment without proper maintenance or periodic replacement creates a fire hazard in a commercial kitchen, whether a restaurant, school or nursing home.
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Smoking near the restaurant premises
Smoking near a restaurant can create a fire hazard. Restaurant fires are sometimes caused by smoking materials that are improperly discarded in trash cans near the premises. Seven percent or one in twelve reported restaurant fires were caused by smoking materials.
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Arson
Unfortunately, about one in twenty-five fires at restaurants and drinking establishments are intentionally set. Though accounting for only about four percent of the total fires, arson causes ten percent of the total property damage.
As a locally owned and operated business, the SERVPRO of Crowley & South Johnson County team lives and works in the community and is close by and ready to respond immediately when a restaurant, drinking establishment, or other types of businesses need commercial fire damage restoration or cleaning services.
For more information about commercial damage restoration in Cleburne, Crowley, and Venus, TX, contact SERVPRO of Crowley and South Johnson County by phone at (817) 297-8588 or by email at office@servprocrowley.com.
