“Roughly every 85 seconds a home fire is reported in the U.S., according to National Fire Protection Association reports,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of outreach and advocacy.
NFPA is working to raise awareness for fire safety during Fire Prevention Week and reminds consumers to take steps to prevent home fires and to have working smoke alarms, she said.
The agency offers the following tips to prevent kitchen fires.
• Keep anything that can catch fire – like oven mitts, wooden utensils and food packaging – away from your stovetop.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling food.
• If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or broiling food, check it regularly.
• Remain home when food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
• Have a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
• Learn the emergency number for your fire department.
• Practice your home fire escape drill!
• If the smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside. Call the fire department from outside the home using a cell or neighbor’s phone.
