- Prevention and safety information to help Americans stay safe from fire.
- Fire prevention resources for America’s career and volunteer Fire Service.
- Coloring pages, puzzles and games that teach kids how to stay safe from fire.
Cooking
Media stories can save lives! A news story about a residential fire provides a valuable opportunity to give your community a safety message during a teachable moment. Drop in these prevention tips and facts, and you just might save a life.
All U.S. homes should have working smoke alarms.
Fires can be prevented. A few easy steps can save your life!
- When cooking, stay in the kitchen and keep an eye on the stove.
- Wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when cooking.
- Keep towels, pot holders, curtains, and paper products away from the stove.
- Keep the stove and oven clean to prevent grease build-up.
- If a cooking fire starts, smother it with a pot lid. Never throw water on a grease fire.
- Heat oil slowly to avoid splattering. Be extra careful when frying foods.
- When cooking in a microwave, do not use metal objects or aluminum foil (they could start a fire).
- If a fire starts in the microwave, keep the door closed.
- Check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave your house to be sure all appliances are turned off.
- Get a fire extinguisher and learn how to use it.
- Never use the stove or oven to heat your home.
- Make a fire escape plan and practice it monthly.
Cooking Fire Facts
- Cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the United States.
- Cooking is the leading cause of home fire injuries.
- Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires.
- Between 1999 and 2002, cooking fires caused about 290 deaths and 4,380 injuries each year.