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Plano Fire Department Fire and Life Safety Education Safety Tip—April 2008 Cooking Fire Safety All the fire safety agencies agree!  Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and attention to safety can prevent nearly all cooking fires. The kitchen is where the majority of families like to gather and spend time together.  It can, however, be one of the most dangerous rooms in the home if you are not aware of and practice safe cooking behaviors. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the Home Safety Council (HSC), and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) all agree that cooking was involved in an estimated 146,400 home structure fires in the United States in 2005.  Cooking fires accounted for 40 percent of the home structure fires in 2005 and these cooking fires resulted in 480 deaths, 4,690 injuries, and $876 million in direct property damage. A report compiled by the NFPA, Home Fires Involving Cooking Equipment, states that cooking equipment left unattended was a factor in ignition in 38 percent of home structure fires for 2002-2005.  The next closest contributing factor was combustibles too close to a heat source and then equipment being unintentionally turned on or not turned off. With a little attention and some safety behavior changes, these fires could be prevented.  Cooking fires peak between 5 and 7 pm with extra cooking, as on major US holidays, often meaning extra home cooking fires.  Typically, more cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving than on any other day of the year. Some consistent safety tips from the three agencies include: Stay in the kitchen when 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 timer to remind you that you are cooking. Stay alert!  To prevent cooking fires you have to be alert.  You won’t be if you are sleepy, have been drinking alcohol, or have taken medicine that makes you drowsy. Keep anything that can catch fire—potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, boxes, food packaging, towels or curtains—away from your stovetop. Keep the stovetop, burners, and oven clean. Keep pets off cooling surfaces and nearby countertops to prevent them from knocking things onto the burner. Wear short, close fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.  Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire if it comes in contact with a gas flame or electric burner. Always turn pot handles inward to prevent small children from reaching and pulling down a hot pot or pan. If your clothes do catch fire, stop, drop, and roll.  Stop immediately, drop to the ground, and cover your face with your hands.  Roll over and over or back and forth to put out the fire.  Immediately cool the burn with cool water for three to five minutes and then seek emergency medical care.  Call 9-1-1 if the burn is severe. If you have any questions concerning fire and life safety information please contact the Plano Fire Department at 972-941-7421 or peggyha@plano.gov.