Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries – follow the below safety tips to help prevent these fires!
Cook With Caution
- Always stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling or broiling food. If you do leave the kitchen even for a short period of time, be sure to turn the stove off.
- If you are simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly and remain in the home while food is cooking. Using a timer is a great reminder that you are cooking!
- Be on alert – avoid using the stovetop if you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol.
- Keep anything that can catch fire away from the stovetop – oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, curtains, etc.
If there is a small cooking fire and you decide to try and put it out…
- Smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled off.
- For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
If you have any uncertainty about fighting a small fire…
- Immediately call 911 and get out, closing the door behind you to help contain the fire.
Information provided by the National Fire Protection Association
