COOKING FIRES

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.).

Facts & Figures*

• In 2001, there were 117,100  reported home structure fires associated with cooking
  equipment, resulting in  370 deaths, 4,290 injuries and $453 million in direct property  damage.
  
• Unattended cooking is the leading  cause of home cooking fires.
  
  
• Three in every 10 reported home  fires start in the kitchen more than any other place in the  home.
  
  
• Two out of three reported home  cooking fires start with the range or stove.
  
  
• Electric ranges or stoves have a  higher risk of fires, injuries and property damage, relative to usage, than gas  ranges or stoves, but gas ranges or stoves have a higher risk of fire  deaths.

*From NFPA's Home Cooking Fire Patterns and
  Trends,
January 2005

Safety tips:

 
• Always use cooking equipment  tested and approved by a recognized testing facility.
  
  
• Never leave cooking food on the  stovetop unattended, and keep a close eye on food
  cooking inside the  oven.
  
  
• Keep cooking areas clean and clear  of combustibles (e.g. potholders, towels, rags, drapes and food  packaging).
  
• Keep children away from cooking  areas by enforcing a "kid-free zone" of three feet
  (1 meter) around the stove.  Keep pets from underfoot so you do not trip while cooking. Also, keep pets off  cooking surfaces and nearby countertops to prevent them from knocking things  onto burner.Wear short, close  fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto  stove burners and catch fire.
  
  
• Never use a wet oven mitt, as it  presents a scald danger if the moisture in the mitt is  heated.
  
• Always keep a potholder, oven mitt  and lid handy. If a small fire starts in a pan on the stove, put on an oven mitt  and smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the  burner. Don't remove the lid until it is completely cool. Never pour water on a  grease fire and never discharge a fire extinguisher onto a pan fire, as it can  spray or shoot burning grease around the kitchen, actually spreading the  fire.
  
  
• If there is an oven fire, turn off  the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you and your  clothing.

If there is a microwave fire, keep  the door closed and unplug the microwave. Call the fire department and make sure  to have the oven serviced before you use it again. Food cooked in a microwave  can be dangerously hot. Remove the lids or other coverings from microwaved food  carefully to prevent steam burns.