Kitchen Fire Safety Precautions

Cooking and grease fires

Be extremely cautious when cooking with grease or oil.
Never hang towels or linens near the stove.
Remove pans of cooking fats and oils from the stove when not in use.
Do not use water to put out stovetop fires caused by grease or fats! Keep baking soda on hand in an open box to pour on grease fires or put a lid on the fire.
Do not store the baking soda in a cupboard above the stove. You need to have clear access to it in case of fire.
Do not move the pan off the stove.
Have an approved fire extinguisher handy for grease fires and learn how to use it. Do not try to fight even a small fire. Flames cannot be seen and may get out of control quickly. Use your judgement. Don’t put your safety at risk by trying to put out a fire.
Do not carry pans full of hot grease.

Unplug electric kettles, frying pans and other appliances when not in use.
Never stick a knife in your toaster to release toast when the toaster is plugged in.
Do not put metal dishes in a microwave oven.
Never use electrical appliances near water.
Do not put take-home or delivery containers in the oven. To keep food warm, take it out of these containers and place it on a cookie sheet or in an oven-safe container.

Cool a burn with cool running water for 5-10 minutes to help prevent further skin damage and to reduce pain. Do not use butter or salve as they will only trap heat and cause more skin damage. If blisters appear or skin is charred, seek medical attention immediately.

For more information on fire precautions, go to Fire Safety on our website.