In recognition of the 2023 National Fire Prevention Week theme, "Cooking Safety Starts with You," the Department of Safety & Risk Management has provided some cooking fire safety tips to keep us safe at home and on campus.

Did you know that cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries? It is also the leading cause of fires and fire alarms on college campuses. Unfortunately, unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires and deaths.

What can you do? The good news is, you can prevent most cooking fires and burns. Help keep you, your family and your friends safer with these simple but effective tips.

‍To prevent cooking fires:

  • Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or stovetop.
  • Keep an eye on your cooking, and stay in the kitchen. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove. Unattended pots and pans are the #1 cause of cooking fires.  
  • Clean cooking surfaces frequently to prevent food and grease build-up.
  • Turn pan handles inward to prevent food spills and to prevent burns.
  • Wear short or close-fitting sleeves. Loose clothing can catch fire.
  • Keep anything that can catch fire – oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains away from your stovetop.
  • Store solvents and flammable cleaners away from the cooking appliances.
  • Do not disable smoke alarms or smoke detectors because of nuisance alarms caused by cooking fumes.
  • Keep a lid nearby when you are cooking to smoother small grease fires.

If there is a small grease fire in the pan:

  • Slide the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered. NEVER CARRY THE PAN OUTSIDE OR PUT IT INTO THE SINK.  NEVER USE WATER OR FLOUR ON GREASE FIRES.
  • Activate the building’s fire alarm and immediately evacuate; and
  • Follow your building’s evacuation procedure.

If there is an oven fire:

  • Turn off the heat and keep the door closed;
  • Activate the building’s fire alarm and immediately evacuate; and
  • Follow your building’s evacuation procedure.

If there is a microwave fire:

  • Keep the door closed and unplug the microwave;
  • Activate the building’s fire alarm and immediately evacuate; and
  • Follow your building’s evacuation procedure.

For more information on cooking fire safety please visit the National Fire Protection Association’s website.

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