Each year kitchen fires kill hundreds of people and injure thousands more.  Most of these fires can be prevented with some basic fire safety tips.

Don't Leave Cooking Unattended- Never leave food cooking on your stove or in you oven when you leave your home.  Stay in the kitchen whenever anything is cooking.  Turn off stoves and appliances promptly when your finished using them and unplug electrical appliances when they are no in use.

Keep Appliances Clean- Built-up grease catches fire easily.  Wipe appliance surfaces after spills and clean stove surfaces and ovens regularly.

Wear Close-Fitting Sleeves- Loose sleeves can dangle too close to hot stove burners and catch fire.  Protect yourself by wearing sleeves that fit snugly, or by rolling up your sleeves securely when you cook.  Don't store things on or above you stove.  Clothing can catch fire when you lean over stove burners to reach shelves.

Close The Door On Microwave Fires-  If anything catches fire in your microwave, keep the door closed and turn off or unplug the microwave.  Opening the door will only feed oxygen to the fire.  Do not use the oven again until it is serviced.

Portable Fire Extinguisher-  Portable fire extinguishers can be effective in fighting small contained fires. Extinguishers are identified by the type and class of fire the put out.  Click to learn more about fire extinguishers.

Keep Flammable Objects Clear of the Stove-  Pot holders, dish towels, and curtains catch fire easily.  Keep such items at least three feet from your stove.

Don't Overload Electrical Outlets-  Plugging too many kitchen appliances, especially heat-producing appliances such as toasters, coffee pots, waffle irons, or electric frying pans, into the same electrical outlet or circuit could overload your circuit, overheat, or cause a fire.  Keep heat-producing appliances away from walls or curtains.  Replace any frayed or cracked electric cords immediately.  Never use appliance cords with a cracked, loose, or damaged plug.  Keep your home's fuse or circuit breakers in good working order.

Turn Pot Handles Inward-  A pot handle sticking out over the edge of your stove can be bumped in passing or grabbed by a child.  Prevent burns and stovetop fires by always turning pot handles in toward the back of the stove.