With wildfires making headlines across the country, it’s a good time to revisit an important topic: kitchen and cooking safety. While wildfires are a significant concern, the kitchen remains one of the most common places for fires to start in the home. Cooking fires can happen quickly and without warning, making it essential for families to stay alert, aware, and prepared.
Fire safety begins in the kitchen. Following a few simple precautions can help prevent accidents and protect your home and loved ones.
10 Kitchen Fire Safety Tips from your Broward County Agent
- Check your food frequently while it’s cooking. Use a timer to remind yourself that something is on the stove or in the oven. Busy schedules and everyday distractions can make it easy to forget you’re cooking.
- Turn off the stove if you need to leave the kitchen. Even if you plan to step away for only a few minutes, it’s safest to turn off the burner.
- Wear short or close-fitting sleeves while cooking. Loose clothing can accidentally come into contact with burners or open flames.
- Use oven mitts when handling hot pots and pans. This helps prevent painful burns and provides a secure grip.
- Be cautious of steam burns. Steam from boiling water or hot food can cause serious skin injuries. Open lids carefully, directing steam away from your face and hands.
- Keep flammable items away from the stovetop. Paper towels, napkins, mail, receipts, wooden utensils, potholders, kitchen towels, and other combustible materials should always be kept away from burners and heat sources.
- Closely supervise young children in the kitchen. Keep them away from the stove, hot cookware, and small kitchen appliances while cooking.
- Store matches and lighters out of sight and out of reach of children. Safe storage helps prevent accidental fires and injuries.
- Keep a fire extinguisher readily accessible. Make sure everyone in your household knows where it is and how to use it.
- Call 911 immediately in an emergency. If a fire cannot be safely controlled, leave the home immediately and call emergency services from a safe location.
A few simple safety habits can make a big difference in preventing kitchen fires. Take a few minutes to review these tips with your family and make fire safety part of your everyday routine.
Brenda Marty Jimenez, MHM, RDN, LDN, FAND is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian with a Master of Science in Human Resource Management. Her professional areas include disease prevention, nutrition, wellness promotion, and food safety. She is a UF/IFAS Extension Agent IV in Broward County, Florida.
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