Cooking fire safety

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and requires your full attention. Don’t cook if you’re tired or under the influence of alcohol, medication or other drugs that cause drowsiness.

Staying alert and following simple safety steps can help prevent accidents in the kitchen.

General safety recommendations

Watch the stove

• Never leave pots cooking on the stove unattended and if leaving the room for any reason, turn off the burner.
• For food that takes longer to cook, such as roasts or stews, stay inside the home and use a timer as a reminder. Check the stove or oven regularly.
• Keep the stovetop, burners, and oven clean of grease and food buildup.

Clear the stovetop

• Keep oven mitts, plastic and wooden utensils, towels, curtains, and food packaging away from the stovetop.
• Never use the oven or microwave to store items.
• Wear short or tight-fitting sleeves while cooking. Loose clothing can easily catch fire if it touches a burner or gas flame.

Children and pets

• Keep children and pets at least 1 metre (3 feet) away from the stove and areas where hot food is prepared.
• Avoid holding a child while cooking or carrying hot liquids.
• Keep pets off cooking surfaces and countertops to prevent them from knocking items onto active burners.

Grease or pan fires

Grease fires can ignite in seconds when cooking oil overheats or splatters onto a hot burner. If a fire starts, stays prepared by taking the following precautions:

• Keeping a fitted lid nearby: slide the lid over the pot or pan and turn off the burner. Leave the lid in place until the pan is completely cool.
• Not using water: pouring water on a grease fire will cause it to spread instantly.
• Keeping oven fires contained: keep the oven door closed and turn off the heat. Only open the oven door once the oven is cool and the fire is out. Stand to the side when opening the door.
• Leaving when a fire is out of control: if a fire cannot be controlled safely, leave the building immediately and close the door to help contain the flames. Call 9-1-1 when you are safely away from the building.

Cooking appliance safety

• Only use cooking equipment with a recognized Canadian certification mark (such as certification marks from):
  • Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
  • Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC)
  • Electrical testing Laboratories (ETL)

• Plug microwaves, toaster ovens, and other appliances directly into electrical outlets. Never use extension cords as they can overheat and cause fires.
• Check cords for cracks or damage. If an appliance is damaged, have it repaired by a professional or replace it.
• Use slow cookers and electric skillets where they cannot be knocked over.

Kitchen ventilation

Range hoods and exhaust fans help remove heat, smoke, and grease from the kitchen. For homes with gas stoves, a working ventilation system is essential. Proper airflow prevents the buildup of dangerous gases.

Proper maintenance of the ventilation system is required to prevent fires, ensure air quality, and a safe cooking environment. Maintain your range hood by:

• cleaning it regularly: grease buildup in a range hood is a fire hazard. Inspect and clean the hood and the exhaust fan often to remove oily residue
• checking for blockages: make sure the vents are clear of any obstructions. If a fan makes unusual noises or does not seem to pull air, have it repaired immediately

Deep frying safety

Deep frying is a common cause of home fires. These fires often start when cooking oil is heated for too long or reaches a very high temperature.

Before cooking

• Consider using an electric deep fryer with temperature controls which is safer than using a pot or pan. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for using, cleaning, and storing the appliance.
• If using a pot or pan, add oil before heating.
• Use a cooking thermometer to always monitor the oil temperature.
• Keep children away from the cooking area to prevent severe burns from touching or splashing hot oil.
• Keep and use all propane deep fryers outdoors only.

While cooking

• Heat oil slowly as oil heated too quickly or too long can catch fire.
• Stay in the kitchen and never leave oil unattended while heating or cooking. When leaving the room, turn off the heat first.
• Reduce the risk of oil boiling over or splattering by:
  • patting food dry with paper towels before placing it in the oil
  • lowering food into the oil slowly and carefully

After cooking

• Power off: turn off the deep fryer or burner as soon as cooking is finished.
• Clean and dry: once the unit has cooled, wash it and ensure it is dried completely before storing.