Pelham FD reminds residents to cook safely to prevent kitchen fires

With more people at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased amount of home cooking, the Pelham Fire Department would like to remind residents about the importance of safe cooking practices. 

There are several simple yet potentially life-saving tips everyone can use to stay safe while cooking.

Stay focused on the food: Unattended cooking is the leading cause of fires in the kitchen.

• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, boiling, or grilling food. Turn off the burner if you leave the kitchen – even for a short period.
• If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly and stay home.
• Use a timer to remind you that you are cooking, or carry around a wooden spoon as a reminder.
• If you are sleepy. have consumed alcohol, or have taken medicine that makes you tired, don't cook. Place a delivery order!

Put a lid on it: You can take simple steps to keep a small kitchen fire from getting out of control.

• Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it's cool.
• Never discharge a portable fire extinguisher Into a grease fire because it will spread the fire.
• In case of an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed until the oven is cool. After the fire, have the oven serviced before using it again.
• If you have a microwave oven fire, turn the appliance off immediately and keep the oven door dosed. Have the microwave oven serviced before using it again.

Keep cooking areas clear: clear away clutter and give cooking appliances space to lessen the chance of a kitchen fire.

• Keep anything that can catch fire – oven mitts, wooden utensils, food wrappers, towels, curtains – away from the stovetop.
• Loose clothing can hang down onto stove burners and catch fire. Wear short, close-fitting, or tightly-rolled sleeves when cooking.
• Have a "kid-free" zone of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
• Keep pets off cooking surfaces and nearby countertops.
• Clean up food and grease from burners and the stovetop.

Prevent scalds and burns: hot liquids can steam from the stove or oven can cause devastating injuries.

• Tum pot handles away from the stove's edge.
• Keep hot foods and liquids away from table and counter edges.
• Keep your face away from the oven door when checking or removing food so that the heat or steam does not cause bums.
• Open microwaved food slowly, away from your face. Let food cool before eating. 
• Keep appliance cords coiled and away from counter edges.