Cooking Fire Safety

Whether stirring up a quick dinner or creating a masterpiece four-course meal, here is a recipe for safer cooking you need to use daily.

To Prevent a Cooking Fire in Your Kitchen

• Keep an eye on your cooking and stay in the kitchen. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires.
• Wear short or close-fitting sleeves. Loose clothing can catch fire.
• Watch children closely. When old enough, teach children to cook safely.
• Clean cooking surfaces to prevent food and grease build-up.
• Keep curtains, towels and pot holders away from hot surfaces and store solvents and flammable cleaners away from heat sources. Never keep gasoline in the house.
• Turn pan handles inward to prevent food spills.
• Establish a three feet "no play" zone around the stove.

To Put Out a Cooking Fire in Your Kitchen

• Call the fire department immediately. In many cases, dialing 911 will give you Emergency Services.
• Slide a pan lid over flames to smother a grease or oil fire, then turn off the heat and leave the lid in place until the pan cools. Never carry the pan outside.
• Extinguish other food fires with baking soda. Never use water or flour on cooking fires.
• Keep the oven door shut and turn off the heat to smother an oven or broiler fire.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Make sure you have the right type and training.
• Keep a working smoke alarm in your home and test in monthly.