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Kitchen Fire Safety
Every year, more than a hundred thousand fires start in home kitchens causing
the loss of someone's home and burns. By following fire safety tips, you can
prevent fires and burns.
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Stay in the kitchen while something is cooking. Especially if the
stove is on high. Never leave grease cooking on the stove. |
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Turn off appliances when you're finished cooking. Coffee pots,
toaster ovens and other appliances can overheat if you leave them on. |
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Unplug electric appliances when they are not in use. Sometimes, even
when the appliance is turned off, the electricity continues to flow to the
appliance and it can still cause a fire because of a faulty switch or
thermostat. |
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Keep appliances clean to keep grease and dirt from building up. Built-up
grease catches fire easily. |
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Wear close-fitting sleeves while cooking so they don't brush against the
burner and catch fire. Loose sleeves can catch fire easily. Store items where you
won't have to reach over a hot burner to reach them. |
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Keep combustibles away from the stove and oven even when you're not using
it. Sometimes the wrong burner is turned on and whatever is on or near the burner
will catch fire. Pot holders, dish towels and blowing curtains could all create
problems if they get too close to the burners. |
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Supervise children while they cook and teach them the safe ways to handle
hot food. |
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While cooking on the stove, turn the pot handles in so that pot handle can't
be bumped or grabbed by a child. Even better, cook on the back burners. |
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Microwaves are fast and easy for a child to operate, but be sure the child
knows some foods get very hot and can cause steam burns. Remove the food with pot
holders and remove the lids with caution. Test the temperature of the food before
eating or wait a few minutes.
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If a fire occurs:
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Evacuate everyone. Go next door and call 911 for emergency help. |
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For a pan fire, have a pan lid or a baking pan handy to smother the flames
immediately. Slide the lid over the pan to avoid burning yourself. A cookie sheet
or baking pan works very well to smother flames on any size pan. Another method is
to pour baking soda on the fire (flour may explode). If you can't put the fire out
within 30 seconds by putting a lid on it, pouring baking soda or using a fire
extinguisher, EVACUATE and call the Fire Department from next door. |
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In the event of a fire in the microwave or the oven, close the door and turn it
off. The flames should die right away from lack of oxygen. |
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In the event of any fire, always notify the Fire Department so they can check
for extension of the fire into hidden areas.
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Last Updated:
May 21, 2010
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