Sparks in the kitchen. Grease buildup on vents. Faulty electrical wiring. These are just a few of the fire hazards facing New Mexico restaurant owners every day.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the best practices for restaurant fire safety, with a focus on the unique challenges in New Mexico. Ready to fireproof your business and keep the flames at bay? Let’s dive in.
Why Restaurants Are So Vulnerable to Fires
The typical eatery kitchen contains a dangerous mix of ignition sources, fuel, and oxygen, making it the perfect recipe for a major fire.
All Those Appliances Ready to Ignite
Our kitchens are filled with appliances that generate massive amounts of heat and potential ignition:
- Ovens, broilers, and grill tops with open flames
- Fryers that operate at scorching 350+ degree oil temps
- Giant griddles, woks, and planchas reaching over 500 degrees
- Heating lamps keeping food hot that can spark against grease or paper goods
- Refrigeration units with belts and compressors that overheat easily
You get the idea. With all these appliances, overheating and equipment malfunctions are not a matter of if, but when. And all it takes is one mechanical failure or spark for these appliances to ignite a fast-spreading kitchen inferno.
Grease Buildup Providing Endless Fuel
Here’s a fun game. Take a walk back to your kitchen and see how many surfaces aren’t coated in a layer of grease. Spoiler alert – the answer is zero!
Grease splatter and vapors coat our walls, stove tops, fryers, vent hoods – you name it. And it builds up more every day that we’re cooking. This grease is essentially accelerant, fuel ready to catch fire and spread flames rapidly.
A deep fryer might ignite the grease in the pan. Or grease on the stove top or oven could catch fire. Hood vents coated in grease can suck up flames from below. However it starts, that ever-present grease throughout the kitchen provides endless fuel to feed the fire once it sparks.
Outdated Gas Lines Prone to Leaks
Many New Mexico restaurants are housed in older buildings with antiquated kitchen gas lines or damaged equipment. This can lead to gas leaks filling our kitchens, essentially loading the air with combustible fuel.
All it takes is a single spark or small fire to ignite that gas and cause an instant explosion. Even a minor leak over time can provide a ready supply of fuel, allowing a small flame to rage into an out of control inferno.
Those outdated gas lines turn our vintage kitchens into ticking time bombs.
Faulty Electrical Wiring Overloaded
Heading into the walk-in freezer to defrost some ground beef? Be sure not to trip over the cobweb of exposed wires along the way!
The wiring situation in many older restaurant buildings is frighteningly outdated. From undersized circuits to damaged sockets, fraying wires and outdated breaker panels, we’ve got electrical fires waiting to happen.
Add in all the appliances and equipment crammed into the small space, running simultaneously and maxing out those already overloaded circuits. These old systems were never designed to handle the high electrical loads of a modern commercial kitchen.
It’s a recipe for overheated wires and electrical arcing that can spark fast-spreading flames.
Tinderbox Clutter
Finally, the abundance of paper products, packaging, cardboard boxes, and fabrics throughout our restaurants provide the perfect tinder to feed flames, allowing even a small ignition source to rage into a major restaurant fire.
Sobering Fire Statistics for Restaurants
Before we dive into safety tips, let’s look at some eye-opening fire statistics for the restaurant industry:
- U.S. fire departments respond to a fire every 23 seconds on average.
- In 2023, there were approximately 1.54 million building fires, causing 4,200 civilian deaths.
- Fires cause around $180 million in restaurant property damages annually.
- Between 2012-2016, fire departments responded to 8,240 restaurant fires per year on average.
The bottom line? Fires are common and costly for restaurants. But many can be prevented with the right precautions.
Fire Prevention Tips for Your New Mexico Restaurant
Okay, let’s talk about practical ways New Mexico restaurant owners like yourself can help prevent devastating fires.
Install Fire Suppression Systems
Automatic fire suppression systems should be standard for all restaurant kitchens. These systems detect fires early and release water or chemical agents to control flames automatically. They also cut off the fuel or power supply to appliances when activated.
- Have a qualified professional inspect your system at least twice a year.
- Keep ABC-type fire extinguishers on hand as a backup.
- Install Class K extinguishers designed for kitchen grease fires – but only activate after the hood system engages.
Maintain Alarms and Sprinklers
Fully-functioning fire alarms and sprinklers are absolute must-haves:
- Test fire alarms regularly to ensure they work when needed.
- Inspect the sprinkler system routinely to guarantee it can suppress flames.
- Update obsolete systems – old wiring and pipes degrade over time.
Address Gas Line Hazards
Faulty gas lines cause many restaurant fires:
- Inspect lines regularly for leaks – look for missing pilot lights or unusual flames.
- Repair or replace damaged and outdated gas equipment ASAP.
- Teach staff to report gas leaks immediately.
Reduce Electrical Fire Triggers
Electrical fires are another big concern:
- Upgrade outdated wiring that can’t handle modern loads.
- Schedule regular maintenance for sockets, switches, appliances.
- Ensure adequate clearance between power sources and combustibles.
- Use surge protectors to prevent voltage spikes.
Install Emergency Lighting
Panicked patrons fleeing a burning restaurant need ample lighting:
- Check exit and emergency lights routinely.
- Keep the backup lighting working in case main power fails.
Fire Safety Maintenance Tips
Preventing fires requires diligent maintenance:
Remove Grease Buildup
Greasy residue on kitchen surfaces, vents, and ductwork needs frequent removal:
- Staff should clean hoods and filters nightly.
- Schedule professional deep cleanings of exhaust system regularly.
- Monthly cleanings for wood/charcoal ovens; quarterly or semiannually for others depending on volume.
Take Out the Trash
Careless trash habits also spark fires:
- Ensure staff removes rubbish daily, especially paper, fabrics, and boxes.
- Store combustibles far from heat and cooking areas.
- Provide metal bins for ashes from wood/charcoal ovens, 10+ feet from buildings.
Inspect Electrical Equipment
Faulty electrical gear causes many fires:
- Replace frayed cords, damaged plugs, worn wiring.
- Upgrade outlets, switches, breaker boxes as needed.
- Make sure circuits aren’t overloaded.
Clean Ductwork
Ventilation ducts clogged with grease are tinderboxes waiting to ignite:
- Routinely clean ducts or hire professionals to handle it.
- Remove grease before it becomes excessive.
Fire Safety Training for Staff
Even the best systems and maintenance mean little without comprehensive staff training on fire safety.
- Conduct regular, hands-on training for all employees.
- Cover correct use of extinguishers, evacuation procedures, preventing fires, etc.
- Partner with your local fire department for training help.
- Ensure everyone knows their role if a fire starts.
Specific things to train staff on:
Kitchen Fire Safety
- Using extinguishers safely
- Activating suppression systems
- Daily cleaning of grease and cooking surfaces
- Proper ash removal from ovens
- Reporting signs of fire immediately
Preventing Fires
- No smoking near flammables
- Safe cigarette disposal
- Removing combustibles like boxes daily
- Not overloading circuits
- Unplugging equipment when not in use
Emergency Response
- Evacuating patrons and staff quickly and safely
- Using emergency exits correctly
- Operating backup lighting systems
- Calling 911
Final Thoughts
To wrap up, here are a few last critical fire precautions for New Mexico restaurants:
- Conduct fire drills to test evacuation procedures regularly.
- Get fire department inspections annually.
- Use fireproof fabrics for seats, drapes, etc.
- Get permits for open flames like candles.
- Store flammables properly outdoors.
- Create an emergency response plan.
- Maintain adequate insurance coverage.
Fire safety requires vigilance, but taking these preventative measures will drastically improve safety at your restaurant.
And as always, partner with qualified professionals like electricians, fire suppression technicians, and commercial cleaning services to stay on top of inspections and maintenance.