Fire Safety for All would like to encourage families to prevent kitchen fires — usually caused by unattended cooking — by using the following basic safety measures.

1. Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
2. If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly; make certain someone is paying attention while the food is cooking and use a timer to remind you that food is cooking.
3. Stay alert, which can’t happen if you’re sleepy, have taken medicine or drugs, or consumed alcohol that makes you drowsy.
4. Keep anything that can catch fire — potholders, wooden utensils, food wrappers, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.
5. Make sure long sleeves and scarves are out of the way when cooking.
6. Have a kid-free zone of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
7. Never hold a child while cooking, drinking or carrying hot foods or liquids.
8. Turn the handles of pots and pans on the stove inward to avoid accidents.
9. Keep pets off cooking surfaces and nearby countertops to prevent them from knocking things onto the burner.
10. Test your smoke alarms by pushing the test button. Do not unplug if you’re frying food. Replace batteries if you can’t remember the last time you changed them.

For more information of cooking fire safety, view:
How to Prevent Thanksgiving Cooking Fires
Outdoor Grilling Fire Safety Tips