THE HEART OF THE HOME
The kitchen of every home contains all the ingredients for a dangerous fire. The Brunswick Fire Department helps you reduce your risk of kitchen fires by giving the following suggestions:
Keep things that burn away from the cooking areas and appliances in your kitchen. Don't place towels, pot holders or paper bags on the stove or near hot appliances.
Clean any grease buildup from the stove, oven or exhaust fan regularly. Cooking grease and oil ignite easily and burn rapidly. Use a lid or bigger pan to smother a pan fire. Do not use water or flour on a grease fire. It will make the fire bigger. Do not carry a burning pan. Keep a lid, baking soda or a fire extinguisher handy to smother fires.
Avoid reaching over the stove for anything. Store frequently needed items in other areas of the kitchen. Don't store cookies near the stove. It might tempt little children to climb on the stove. Keep children away from cooking areas entirely.
Keep pot handles turned inward, out of reach of children and where you can't bump into them. Keep appliance cords up on counter tops too. Check cords for frayed or broken spots. Replace damaged cords or appliances.
Dress for fire safety in the kitchen. Do not wear loose fitting clothing, like nightgowns or robes while cooking.
Shield yourself from steam when uncovering food, especially microwaved servings. Steam can cause serious burns.