Cooking can mean danger where a loose sleeve could catch fire from the stove, or a pot left on a burner can become a major fire if forgotten. The unsafe use of smoking materials is the leading cause of fire deaths among older Americans. Heating equipment is responsible for a big share of fires in seniors' homes. Extra caution should be used with alternate heaters such as wood stoves or electric space heaters. Too often, the heaters become a fire hazard, particularly when newspapers and other combustibles are nearby.
Faulty wiring is another major cause of fires affecting the elderly.
Older homes can have serious wiring problems, ranging from old appliances with bad wiring to overloaded sockets. Most kitchen fires occur because food is left unattended on the stove or in the oven. If you must leave the kitchen while cooking, turn off the burners and take a spoon or potholder with you to remind you to return to the kitchen. Never cook with loose, dangling sleeves. Robes and other loose-fitting garments can ignite easily.