Don’t drop your guard: Cooking year-round means practicing kitchen fire safety year-round

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Aaron Coleman
  • Grand Forks Air Force Base Fire Department
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  This year, the theme for Fire Prevention Week was "Prevent Kitchen Fires." Just because it's no longer Fire Prevention Week doesn't mean we drop our guard when it comes to cooking safety.

According to the National Fire Protection Agency , cooking fires are the number one cause of homes fires and injuries.

During the holidays fire departments see a rise in these types of fires as well as cooking related injuries. Statistics from the NFPA tell us that in 2010, cooking was involved in an estimated 156,400 home structure fires that were reported to U.S. fire departments. These fires caused 420 deaths, 5,310 injuries and $993 million in direct property damage.

Cooking caused 44 percent of reported home fires, 16 percent of home fire deaths, 40 percent of home fire injuries, and 15 percent of the direct property damage in 2010. With the leading cause of kitchen fires being unattended cooking, here are some safety tips to keep in mind while preparing food in the kitchen.

· Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.

· If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.

· Keep anything that can catch fire -- oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains -- away from your stovetop.

· Keep the stovetop, burners and oven clean.

· Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and can catch fire if it comes in contact with a gas flame or electric burner.

· Have a "kid-free zone" of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

· Always use cooking equipment that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.

· Follow the manufacturer's instructions and code requirements when installing, cleaning, and operating cooking equipment.

· Plug microwave ovens or other cooking appliances directly into an outlet. Never use an extension cord for a cooking appliance as it can overload the circuit and cause a fire.
· Check electrical cords for cracks, breaks, or damage.

If something goes wrong while cooking and there is a fire:

· Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.

· Call 911 or the local emergency number after you leave.

· If you do try to fight the fire, be sure others are already getting out and you have a clear path to the exit.

· Always keep a lid nearby when you're cooking. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. Do not move the pan. To keep the fire from restarting, leave the lid on until the pan is completely cool.

· In case of an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. After a fire, the oven should be checked and/or serviced before being used again.