The Gastonia Fire Department wants to remind you to be safe and practice safe cooking techniques at all times!
Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and related injuries in the United States.
Many of these fires can be prevented if the public follows a few simple guidelines while preparing meals
- Keep anything that can catch fire, such as oven mittens, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, or curtains, away from the stovetop.
- Always stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you have to leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
- When 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. If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or 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.
- If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out, and you have a clear pathway out of the home, and someone has called the fire department.
- Keep a lid nearby when cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turning off the stove top. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
- For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
