Cooking Safety

Everyone enjoys a home-cooked meal. But whether you are preparing a feast or re-warming last night's leftovers, it's important to take some basic precautions to avoid turning a quiet meal into a devastating house fire.

• Cooking accidents are the leading cause of home fires in the United States, and over three quarters of these fires occur at the range around mealtime.
• According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 1999 (the last year for which statistics are available) cooking equipment was involved in 96,200 house fires, causing 331 civilian deaths, 4,183 civilian injuries, and over $511.3 million of property damage.
  

Make Fire Safety a Priority

• Preventing cooking fires can be relatively simple. Here are some commonsense ideas to make your kitchen safer:
• Keep cooking areas free of combustible materials like potholders, packaging, and paper towels. Don't wear loose clothing that can dangle onto a burner and catch fire.
• Don't leave food unattended while it cooks.
• Keep a kitchen fire extinguisher, which releases sodium bicarbonate that will not adhere to and ruin your appliances, within reach - on the counter or hanging on the wall. When purchasing a fire extinguisher, choose the largest size that can be handled comfortably.
• Read the instructions and know how to use your extinguisher before a fire breaks out. Be sure the extinguisher is in working order and keep a list of emergency numbers close by. Always call the fire department before attempting to fight a fire yourself.
• Keep children and pets away from cooking areas by creating a three-foot "safe zone" around the stove.
• Turn pot handles inward to prevent spills.
• Always use cooking equipment approved by a reputable testing facility.
• Clean cooking equipment so that it is free of grease buildup, which can ignite if heated directly.
• Never pour water onto a grease fire or use a fire extinguisher on an open pan - doing so may spread the burning material to other areas of the kitchen.
• If there is an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent the flames from escaping.
• Never put metal objects into a microwave. Should a microwave fire occur, keep the door shut and unplug the unit immediately.
• Develop and practice an escape plan with your whole family. Plan two exit routes from each room, including the kitchen. Practice your escape plan at different times of day to mimic the most difficult fire situation you might encounter. Never re-enter a burning home.
  

(For help developing a fire escape plan, go to www.nfpa.org.)