Do you think the decline in the economy could equate to more kitchen fires?

A while back, a local fireman was interviewed on the news. He said kitchen fires are on the rise because of the economy. The logic is the less money people have, the less they eat out, the more cooking they do at home, hence the fires.

I'm nobody to doubt a fireman, but I don't see how that could really have a major impact on the incidents of kitchen fires.

Thoughts?

I guess in a roundabout kind of way it makes sense but this is the first time I've heard that.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?????

Here is an article from 2009 from Delaware saying the same thing as our local guy did on the news.


Dover Fire Chief Sean Christiansen says a substantial increase in kitchen fires may be tied to the downturn in the economy because more people are cooking at home.

Christiansen said Wednesday that firefighters have already received 138 reports of kitchen fires compared to 136 in all of last year and 110 in 2007.

He said the fires happen when something cooking on the stove is left unattended and catches fire.

The chief says people should pay attention and if food is burning, they should turn down the heat, remove it from the heat or put a lid on it.

The most recent kitchen fire broke out Wednesday afternoon at an apartment complex.

I would've thought the cause being more like arson to try collecting on insurance; of all the places in a house for a fire to break out where there aren't going to be so many questions asked, it's the kitchen.

Supernova wrote:I would've thought the cause being more like arson to try collecting on insurance; of all the places in a house for a fire to break out where there aren't going to be so many questions asked, it's the kitchen.

But a kitchen fire is normally not a total loss and since there is smoke damage, and so much money involved in repairs, I don't think a kitchen fire would yield a gain on the claim.

RedBedroom wrote:

But a kitchen fire is normally not a total loss and since there is smoke damage, and so much money involved in repairs, I don't think a kitchen fire would yield a gain on the claim.

I agree. Kitchen fires tend to be a little more confined. You just end up with a huge repair bill, an increase in premiums & maybe even a dropped policy. A fire that does that much damage has to have something to "catch" like rugs, drapes & bedding.

Supposedly there’s an increase in traffic fatalities on Tax day.

It's believable.

So I guess that means less traffic accidents on the road, due to people not driving to work.

Cheaps wrote:So I guess that means less traffic accidents on the road, due to people not driving to work.

Good point lol