Five things to know
- Never leave the kitchen while food is cooking. Most fires in the kitchen occur because food is left unattended while cooking. Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling, broiling or boiling food. If you must leave briefly, make sure you turn off the stove. If food is simmering, baking or roasting, check it regularly. Consider using a timer to remind you that the stove or oven is on.
- Do not disconnect a smoke alarm while cooking. Smoke alarms save lives. Make sure smoke alarms are installed and working. It is also important to keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency. Make sure it is rated for grease fires and electrical fires and that you know how it works before an emergency occurs.
- Always keep a potholder, oven mitt and lid handy while cooking. If a small fire starts in a pan on the stove, put on a flame-resistant oven mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. Don't remove the lid until it is completely cool. When removing lids on hot pans, tilt them away from you to protect your face and hands from steam. If there is an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you or your clothing.
- Never wear loose fitting clothing when cooking. Long open sleeves will ignite and catch fire from a gas flame or a hot burner. Wear short, close fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.
- Do not pour water on a grease fire or use a fire extinguisher on a skillet or frying pan fire. You could potentially spray or shoot burning grease around the kitchen and spread the fire.
