Cooking fires are the #1 cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Most cooking equipment fires start with the ignition of common household items (e.g., food or grease, cabinets, wall coverings, paper or plastic bags, curtains, etc...).

Don't leave the kitchen while food is cooking on the stove top.

Your Full Attention Please

• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or boiling food.
• Continuously check food items that are simmering, roasting, or baking.
• Don't cook if you are sleepy, if you have been drinking alcohol excessively, or if you have taken medication that makes you drowsy.

Neat and Clean

• Keep pot holders, food packaging, cookbooks, and other things that can catch fire off your stovetop.
• Wipe up spills and clean your oven. Built-up grease can catch fire.
• Keep curtains, dish towels, and anything that burns away from your stove.
• Turn pot handles to the back so you can't bump them.

Electrical safety in the kitchen

• Use only one heat-producing appliance on the same circuit at a time.
• Have ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCIs) installed on all kitchen-counter outlets to prevent shock hazards.
• Protect counter-top circuits with the proper size fuses or circuit breakers.
• Replace cracked or frayed appliance cords.
• If an appliance feels too hot, smokes, or gives off a funny odor, unplug it immediately and have it serviced or replaced.

Prevent Burns

• Open microwaved foods slowly. Let it cool for a minute or more before eating.
• Never use a wet oven mitt. A hot pan could turn that dampness into scalding steam.

Fighting Kitchen Fires

• Grease fires
  Always keep a pot holder, oven mitt and lid handy. If a pan of food catches fire, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the fire. Turn off the burner. Prevent flare-ups by leaving the pan covered until it is completely cool. Never put water on a grease fire, the grease could spread and make the fire much worse.
  
  
• Oven Fires
  Turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed.
  
  
• Microwave Fires
  Keep the door closed and unplug the microwave if you can safely reach the plug. Have the oven serviced before you use it again.
  
  

Dress for the Occasion

• Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing when cooking.

Nothing Underfoot

• Declare a three-foot "kid-free zone" around your stove and keep children and pets away while you cook.