According to the National Fire Protection Association cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries. The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking. Never leave the house while food is cooking not even if its for a few minutes. Never cook while sleepy or under the influence. NFPA has a few tips to help you out if you have a cooking fire.
If you have a cooking fire and don't feel confident about extinguishing the fire yourself, DON'T. When in doubt just get out. When you are escaping a fire always close the door behind you to help contain the fire. Once you are safe call 911. If you chose to fight the fire be sure others are already getting out and you have a clear path to the exit.
If you have a small grease fire that is confined to a pan on the burner:
wearing an oven mitt, smother the fire by carefully sliding the lid over the pan.
turn off the burner.
do not move the pan or remove the lid until the pan is completely cool.
If you have an oven fire:
Turn off the oven and keep the door closed, this will suffocate the fire.
Keep the door closed until you are sure the fire is completely out.
Have the oven checked and serviced before you use it again.
If you have a microwave fire:
Unplug it if you can safely reach the outlet. This will stop the fan so it wont feed oxygen to the flames.
Keep the door closed until you are sure the fire is completely out.
Have the microwave checked and serviced before you use it again.
If someone is burned cool the burn with cool water for 3-5 minutes. If the burn is bigger than your fist, or if you have any questions, seek medical attention right away. For more information you can contact your local fire department or log onto the US Fire Administration's website at www.usfa.dhs.gov.