February 7, 2022
Did you know that cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires in Edmonton? Last year, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) responded to more than 150 kitchen fires.
February 6 to 12 is Burn Awareness Week and EFRS wants to remind Edmontonians how to cook with care to prevent kitchen fires and personal injury. This year’s theme is “Burning Issues in the Kitchen!” The most important rule is to never leave cooking unattended.
Most kitchen fires are caused by overheated cooking oil and grease.
Follow these steps when dealing with a grease fire:
- Never use water.
- While wearing an oven mitt, use a pot lid or baking sheet like a shield and slide it over the top of the pot.
- Turn off the heat.
- Wait at least 15 minutes before moving the pan and removing the lid/cover to ensure that the fire is completely out and the contents have had time to cool.
Prevent burns and injuries:
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Wear clothing with short or tight sleeves when cooking, as loose clothing can catch fire from a gas flame or electric burner.
- Turn pot handles towards the back of the stove.
- Always keep a lid nearby when you are cooking.
- Keep all combustibles such as curtains, dishcloths, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper towels, pot holders, and food packaging away from the stove.
- Carefully remove lids or other coverings to prevent steam burns when cooking food in a microwave.
- Establish a “kid-free” zone of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or hot beverages are prepared and/or carried.
- Keep a fire extinguisher within easy reach.
EFRS would like to also remind Edmontonians that smoke alarms save lives. Replace all alarms that are 10 years old or older and test alarms monthly. Edmontonians are encouraged to join the conversation on social media during Burn Awareness Week using the hashtag #burnawarenessweek.
