Safety while cooking is the focus of this year’s Fire Prevention Week, so the Lloydminster Fire Department is sharing some tips to keep the heat where it needs to be.
Some safety cooking tips include:
- Never leave the kitchen when cooking
- If you must leave the kitchen when cooking, always turn the burner(s) off first – even if you think you’ll be away for only a minute
- Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking
- Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner
- Have a “kid- and pet-free zone” of at least 3 feet (1 metre) around the stove or grill, and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried
- Encourage children to make sandwiches or other food items that don’t need the stove, or use the microwave instead
- Be sure to never use tinfoil or put utensils like knives or forks into the microwave
- Keep all items like towels and potholders away from the stovetop
If a pot or pan catches fire:
- Stay calm
- Don’t move it – it will be very hot
- If available or safe to do so, cover the pan with a lid, cutting air to the fire will extinguish it
- Turn off the heat of the stove/oven if it’s safe to do so – don’t lean over the pan to reach the controls
- Never use water on grease fires as it will intensify the fire; use a fire blanket to smother the flames if it is safe to do so
- If using a fire extinguisher, use caution and follow the directions – misuse can cause a fire to spread
- If the fire doesn’t go out, get out, stay out and call 911
The Lloydminster Fire Department is hosting its annual community open house on Thursday, Oct. 12 from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the D.E. Gustavson Fire Station No. 2 (2716 59 Avenue).
More cooking safety tips are available online. Also, safety tips for your kids can be found on the National Fire Protection Association website.
Fire Prevention Week is from Oct. 8-14. It was first observed in 1925.
