Cooking fires are the number 1 cause of home fires. Unattended cooking in the kitchen is the leading cause. Following a few safety tips will ensure your safety when using the kitchen such as:
- When simmering, baking or roasting be sure to use a timer and keep checking on your food.
- Never leave the stove if you are grilling or frying food.
- Watch what you are cooking: Fires start when the heat is too high. If you see any smoke or the grease starts to boil, turn the burner off.
- Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Then no one can bump them or pull them over.
- Keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby: Use it to cover the pan if it catches on fire. This will put out the fire.
- Don’t cook when overly tired or under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
- Never leave dishcloths, oven mitts, towels, food packaging, or curtains near the burners on a stove.
- Have a “Child Free” zone about 3 feet wide near stoves and other hot cooking areas to keep children safe.
- If a small grease fire happens on your stove, smother the flames with a pan lid and turn off the burner. Wait for it to cool.
- If an oven fire happens, turn off the heat and close the oven door.
Grilling
Seven out of every 10 adults in the U.S. have a grill or smoker*, which translates to a lot of tasty meals. But it also means there’s an increased risk of home fires.
In 2014-2018, fire departments went to an annual average of 8,900 home fires involving grills, hibachis or barbecues per year, including 3,900 structure fires and 4,900 outside or unclassified fires
- Charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices shall not be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet (3048 mm) of combustible construction.
Exceptions:·
- One- and two-family dwellings.
- Where buildings, balconies and decks are protected by an automatic sprinkler system.
- LP-gas cooking devices having LP-gas container with a water capacity not greater than 21/2 pounds [nominal 1 pound (0.454 kg) LP-gas capacity].
