Each year, kitchen fires kill hundreds of people and injure thousands in North America. Most of these fires can be prevented by following the basic fire safety tips on this page.
Don’t leave cooking unattended
Never leave food cooking on your stove or in your oven when you leave home and stay in the kitchen whenever anything is cooking. Turn off stoves and appliances promptly when you’re finished using them and unplug electrical appliances when they are not in use.
Keep appliances clean
Built-up grease catches fire easily. Wipe appliance surfaces after spills and clean stove surfaces and ovens regularly.
Be alert
Studies show that 42 percent of the people who have died in cooking fires were asleep. Do not attempt to cook if you have been drinking alcohol or are drowsy.
Wear close-fitting sleeves
Loose sleeves can dangle too close to hot stove burners and catch fire. Don’t store things on or above your stove. Clothing can catch fire when you lean over stove burners to reach shelves.
Keep flammable objects clear of the stove
Pot holders, dish towels, and curtains catch fire easily. Keep such items at least three feet (one meter) from your stove.
Do not overload electrical outlets
Plugging too many kitchen appliances, especially heat producing appliances such as toasters, coffee pots, waffle irons, or electric frying pans into the same electrical outlet or circuit could overload your circuit, overheat, or cause a fire.
Operate microwaves safely
Microwave ovens stay cool, but what’s cooked in them can be very hot. Use pot holders when removing food from microwave ovens.
Turn pot handles inward
A pot handle sticking out over the edge of your stove can be bumped in passing or grabbed by a child. Prevent burns and stovetop fires by always turning pot handles in toward the back of the stove.
Heat oil slowly
Heat cooking oil slowly over moderate heat and never leave hot oil unattended.
If a grease fire starts, smother it.
Never pour water on a cooking fire. If a pan of food catches fire, carefully slide a lid over the pan and turn off your stove burner. Keep the lid on until completely cooled. If a fire starts in your oven, close the oven door and turn off the heat source. If the flames do not go out immediately, call the fire department.
Close the door on microwave fires
If anything catches fire in your microwave, keep the door closed and turn off or unplug the microwave. Opening the door will only feed oxygen to the fire. Do not use the oven again until it is serviced.
First aid for burns
Run cool water over a burn for 10 to 15 minutes. This will minimize skin damage and ease the pain. Never apply butter or other grease to a burn. If the burned skin is blistered or charred, see a doctor immediately.
Stop, drop, and roll
If your clothing catches fire, do not run. Stop where you are, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands, and roll over and over to smother the flames. If someone else’s clothes catch fire, push them to the ground and roll them over and over, or smother the flames with a flame-resistant blanket or carpet.
