Kitchen and Cooking Safety
Cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Protect yourself, your family, and your neighborhood by practicing these prevention tips.
Safety Tips
- Stay in the kitchen while you are cooking. If you leave the kitchen, turn off the stove.
- Keep items, such as oven mitts, wooden utensils, towels, etc., away from the stovetop, even when the stove is off.
- Keep a lid nearby to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding a lid over the pan and turning the stove off.
- For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
- Only plug one heat-producing appliance, such as a coffee
maker, toaster, etc., into an outlet at a time. - Never store items on top of the stove or cooktop and inside the oven.
- Create a three-foot child- and pet-free zone around your cooking area.
Outdoor Grilling Safety
- Never leave grills unattended.
- Grills should only be used outdoors.
- Set your grill in an open area at least 10 feet away from buildings.
For Gas Grills:
- Ensure the hose connection is tight, and check for leaks by spraying a diluted solution of soap and water on the hose and fittings. If bubbles form, turn the cylinder off, and do not use it until the leaks are fixed.
- Keep a small spray bottle of water nearby for grill flare-ups
- Turn the grill and cylinder off immediately after use, and ensure the cylinder valve knob is completely turned to the shut- off position before storing.
For Charcoal Grills:
- Avoid adding lighter fluid after the coals have been lit.
- Always place coals in a metal container with a tight lid after they have cooled for 48 hours.
Before lighting an imu or large cooking fire, notify the Fire Communication Center at 808-723-3473.
