Fire Prevention Tips for News Stories:
Cooking Fire Prevention and Home Fire Safety

About 3,500 Americans die each year in fires and about 18,300 are injured. You can stop the fire before it starts. Use this fact sheet to learn how to prevent a fire in your home and know what to do if you have a fire.

Stop a cooking fire before it starts:

• Keep towels, pot holders, and curtains away from flames, ovens, and stove tops.
• Never leave food that is cooking on the stove alone. A serious fire can start in just seconds.
• Clean cooking surfaces regularly to prevent grease buildup, which can start fires.
• Never use the stove or oven to heat your home.
• Double-check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave the house. Make sure all appliances are turned off.
• Make sure you turn off the stove or oven when you are finished using it.

Avoid cooking injuries:

• Always wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when cooking, because the sleeves may catch on fire and burn you.
• Heat cooking oil slowly to avoid burns from spattering grease. Be extra careful when cooking deep-fried food, because the hot grease can burn you.

Be prepared for a fire:

• If you are cooking and a fire starts, turn off the stove or burner and put a lid on the pan to stop it. Never throw water on a grease fire.
• One of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is to have a working smoke alarm that can sound fast for both a fire that has flames, and a smoky fire that has fumes without flames. It is called a "Dual Sensor Smoke Alarm." A smoke alarm greatly reduces your chances of dying in a fire.
• Prepare an escape plan and practice it twice a year. Make sure everyone in your family knows at least two (2) escape routes from their bedrooms.

To learn more on how you can prevent fires and fire deaths, please contact your local fire department's office phone number (not 911) or visit www.usfa.fema.gov.