Kitchen Fire Safety Tips

Cooking is like a craft, with its own ingredients, procedures, and safety precautions. Prevent kitchen fires and learn how to safely extinguishing one with these kitchen fire safety tips.

Fire Safety Tips When Cooking

• Stay by the stove when the burner is on. A stove fire can erupt in seconds, so it is important that you are nearby to put out the flames. The most dangerous and flammable cooking ingredient is oil, so never leave hot oil unwatched. It can burst into flames within seconds.
  
  
• Wear tight-fitting clothing while cooking. Oversized or long, draping clothes can easily brush against a hot burner and catch fire.
  
  
• Aim pot handles towards the center and away from traffic. This fire safety tip will prevent one’s elbow from knocking against the handle and spilling food, or even worse, hot oil or fat onto youself or the burner.
  
  
• Clean the grease off the stove regularly. One major fire safety no-no is allowing grease to build up, because large amounts of grease can ignite. Try to wipe the stove top after every cooking session.
  
  
• Heat oil up gradually. This fire safety measure will prevent hot oil from splattering onto your skin or in your eyes. Never pour oil into a hot pan, because it can burst into flames within seconds. It is safer to pour oil into the pan before you turn on the burner.
  
  
• Place a rubber or non-slip mat on the floor. If your floor frequently gets wet from spilt liquids or oil, a rubber mat will keep your shoes from slipping on the liquid.