Don’t Cook If You Can’t Look

Cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires and home injuries in the United States. The primary cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.

No Cocinar Si No Puedes Mirar

Cooking Safety Tips

Here are some tips to help you prevent such a fire in your home:

• Stay in the kitchen when you’re frying food or cooking with oil or grease.
• Never cook when you’re tired, medicated or intoxicated.
• Keep things that can catch fire, such as potholders, oven mitts, paper or plastic bags, and curtains away from the stovetop.
• Wear short, close-fitting, or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and can catch fire.
• Keep kids at least three feet the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
• Keep a lid nearby when you’re cooking. If a small fire erupts in the pan, slide a lid over the pan, turn off the stove, and let the pan cool.
• In case of an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you or your clothing. After a fire, the oven should be checked and/or serviced before being used again.
• If you have a stove fire and it doesn’t go out, get out of the home and call 911.

For more information, contact the City of Raleigh Office of the Fire Marshal, division of Fire and Life Safety Education, at 919-996-6392.

Visit the National Fire Protection Association site to learn more.

Take the Pledge

I pledge to …

Always stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling, boiling or broiling food;

Always keep combustible items away from the stove;

Never cook on the stovetop when I am sleepy, medicated, or intoxicated; and

Always turn the stove off when I must leave the kitchen.

Don't Cook If You Can't Look Survey

Take the Don’t Cook if you Can’t Look survey