Extinguishing Stove Fires
- If grease or oil in the pan ignites, smother the fire with a lid or baking soda and turn off the stove. Never use water, which causes grease fires to spread.
- Do not remove the lid or put it under water until it cools!
Extinguishing Oven / Microwave Fires
- Leave the oven or microwave door shut and turn off the heat. If the flames don’t go out right away, leave immediately and telephone the fire department from a neighbor's house. Be sure to have your microwave or oven checked by a maintenance person before you use it again.
Smoke Detector Fire Safety Tips
- Install a smoke detector. This affordable important gadget doubles your chance of surviving a fire.
- Never remove the batteries from your smoke detector. If you must remove them because a large amount of smoke during cooking caused the detector to go off, open the windows and turn on a fan to clear the air, and reinsert the batteries as soon as possible.
Last thoughts on Fire Safety in the Kitchen
- Store flammable items far away from the stove. This includes: pot holders, dish rags, towels, curtains, and food packaging.
- Never use the oven or stove range to heat your home. This is not only a fire hazard, but if you have a gas oven / stove, you are letting gas into the air.
