"If I had known!" Avoidable claims

Sometimes, just a little caution is enough to avoid disaster.

Cooking fires are the cause of too many tragedies and are often the result of negligence.

• Always use a deep fryer when you make french fries and be sure to unplug it after each use.
• Buy a deep fryer with a thermostat.
• Avoid spills by only filling the fryer to one-third of its capacity.
• Be vigilant when deep frying and don't leave the fryer unattended.
• Turn off the heating element if you have to leave the room.
• Keep a pot lid on hand in case the oil catches fire.
• Clean all cooking surfaces regularly (the walls and the hood) because grease can quickly catch fire.

Supplementary heating or wood stoves may nullify your fire insurance coverage if you forget to advise your insurer of their installation or if they are not installed according to the manufacturer's directions.  The accumulation of combustion residue frequently causes fires so it is recommended that you have the chimney and flue pipe cleaned once or twice a year.

Improper ash disposal can also cause fires. Exercise caution and put your warm ashes in a metal container.