Prevent Cooking Fires With These Safety Tips

From the Alameda County Fire Department:

Did you know that according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving is the leading day of the year for home fires involving cooking equipment? 

As you prepare to make some of your favorite meals this holiday season, please keep these fire safety tips from the NFPA in mind: 

"Cook with Caution" 

• Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don't use the stove or stovetop. 

• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove. 

• If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a time to remind you that you are king. 

• Keep anything that can catch fire--oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains--away from your stovetop. 

"If You Have a Cooking Fire...." 

• Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire. 

• Call 9-1-1 after you leave. 

• If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out. 

• Keep a lid nearby when you're cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled. 

• For an oven fire turn off the heat and keep the door closed. 

Though these cooking fire safety tips are designed to be helpful, please do not hesitate to call 9-1-1 if you are in a situation that endangers human life or property so that emergency personnel may immediately respond.