Home Fire Safety Tips

COOKING SAFETY

• If you leave stovetop cooking unattended, you're asking for a fire, especially when hot oil or frying is involved.
• If  you have a stovetop grease fire, turn off the burner and cover the pan with a lid to cut off oxygen to the fire. Let the pan cool before removing the lid. Never try to take a burning pan to the sink and NEVER use water on a grease fire. Use a fire extinguisher only if you know how; if you stand too close, you'll only spread the flaming grease all over the kitchen.
• For an oven fire, turn off the oven and keep the oven door closed until the fire is out and the oven cools.
• Never leave the oven door open to heat the room. The oven can overheat and cause a fire.

ELECTRICAL SAFETY

• Overloaded outlets with multiple outlets or extension cords cause fires.
• Buy UL listed extension cords. Make sure the cord is the proper length for the job and designed to handle the current or wattage of the products being used.
• Don't cut or splice for any reason. A splice is a cord's weakest point; using electrical tape doesn't make a splice safe.
• Electrical cords should never be run under rugs or bundled up to take up excess. This can cause the cord to overheat.
• Properly cover unused outlets to prevent accidental shock.
• Install ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI's) to protect all outside outlets and anywhere else water is present, such as outlets in bathrooms and near kitchen sinks.