Safety and Fire Prevention - Kitchen Fire Safety

More fires begin in the kitchen than any other room in the home. In fact, residential cooking is one of the leading causes of fire-related deaths. The majority of kitchen fires begin with cooking equipment. Most kitchen fires are preventable if these fire safety tips are followed.

Stay in the kitchen when cooking

• Never leave cooking unattended. Oil or fat can ignite
• Always turn oven and burners off when you are finished cooking
• Always unplug electrical appliances when not in use
• Keep children a safe distance from cooking area

Stay Alert

• Cooking requires you to be rested and alert
• Avoid cooking when under the influence of alcohol or medications

Wear short or close-fitting sleeves

• Avoid loose sleeves that may contact burners and catch fire
• Avoid storing items on or above your stove

Turn pot handles in

• Prevent burns and stove-top fires by turning pot handles toward the back of the stove when cooking
• Whenever possible use rear burners. Pot handles that stick out can be easily bumped or grabbed by a small child

Clean cooking surfaces

• Keep appliance surfaces free of spills and grease that may catch fire

Keep combustible items clear of stove

• Keep curtains, dish towels, plastic containers and pot holders away from hot surfaces.

Operate Microwaves safely

• Always use pot holders or oven mitts to remove food from microwaves
• Remove lids carefully to avoid steam burns

Don't overload electrical outlets

• Avoid overloading electrical outlets with too many kitchen appliances
• Carefully examine electrical cords and discard any that are frayed, cracked or damaged

Working smoke alarms save lives

• Purchase and install working smoke alarms. Specialized alarms are available for the kitchen if nuisance alarms are an issue. Contact Oshawa Fire Services for more details.
• Test smoke alarms monthly and for battery operated smoke alarms replace batteries at least once a year

What to do if you have a kitchen fire?

Put a lid on it

• To extinguish a grease fire, use a potholder or oven mitts and slide a pot lid over the flames then turn the heat source off
• If the flames do not go out, immediately leave your home and call the fire department

Oven/ Microwave fires

• If a fire starts in your oven, close the oven door and turn off the heat source
• For a microwave fire, keep the door closed and turn off the microwave
• Remember, if the fire does not go out, leave your home and call the fire department immediately

Portable fire extinguishers

Portable fire extinguishers can be effective in fighting small contained fires.

• Make sure Oshawa Fire Services has been notified by 911 before any attempts to extinguish.
• Never put the fire between yourself and your way out.
• Ensure you use the appropriate extinguisher.
• Know when and how to operate your extinguisher

In case of fire or an emergency, call 9-1-1.