WATCH WHAT YOU HEAT
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and fire departments across North America observe Fire Prevention Week each October to mark the anniversary of the 1871 Great Chicago Fire and raise public awareness of fire safety.
The theme of Fire Prevention Week 2006 is kitchen fire safety...
Prevent Cooking Fires: Watch What You Heat!
Cooking equipment is involved in more than 100,000 reported home fires each year. Most of those fires start because people are not paying attention to their cooking.
KITCHENS ARE THE NUMBER ONE PLACE FOR HOME FIRES TO START
Kitchen Safety Tips
Pay attention when you cook!
Most cooking fires occur because of unattended cooking.
 Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, broiling, or boiling food.
If you must leave the room even even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
When you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home, and use a timer to remind you.
When you are finished cooking turn off all burners and ovens.
MICROWAVES
Read the manufacturer's instructions before you use a microwave oven.
Plug the oven directly into an outlet. Never use an extension cord for a microwave-it can overload the circuit and cause a fire.
Use only microwave safe containers to heat food.
Allow food to cool for a minute or more before your remove it from the oven and use an oven mitt.
Open food slowly. Hot steam escaping from the container can cause painful burns. Let food and liquid cool before you eat or drink it.
Remember that containers may feel warm, the contents may be very hot.
Never use aluminum foil or metal objects in a microwave oven. They can cause a fire or burn hazard and damage the oven.
If you have a fire in your microwave, turn it off immediately and keep the door closed. Never open the door until the fire is completely out. If in doubt, get out of the home and call the fire department.
SMALL KITCHEN FIRES
Grease Fires
Always keep an oven mitt and a lid nearby. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan(make sure you are wearing the oven mitt). Turn off the burner. To keep the fire from restarting, do not remove the lid until it is completely cool. Never pour water on a grease fire. If the fire does not go out, get out of the home and call the fire department.
Oven Fires
Turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you or your clothing. If the fire does not go out, get out of the home and call the fire department.
Fire Extinguishers
Know what type of fire your fire extinguisher will put out. Learn how to use your fie extinguisher before a fire occurs.
Neat and Clean
Keep pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper of plastic bags, food packaging, towels, curtains, and anything else that can burn away from your stovetop. Clean up food and grease from burners and the stovetop.
Burn Prevention
If you have young children, use the stove's back burners whenever possible. keep children and pets at least 3 feet away from the stove. When you cook, wear clothing with tight-fitting sleeves. Treat a burn right away by putting it in cool water for 3 to 5 minutes. Then cover the burn with a clean dry cloth. When in doubt, seek medical attention.
Countertop Safety
Use only one heat producing appliance on the same electrical circuit at a time. Have ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) installed on kitchen-counter outlets. Replace cracked or frayed appliance cords. If an appliance feels too hot, smokers, or gives off an unusual odor, unplug it immediately. Then have it serviced or replaced.
| 
