Published on March 20, 2026

Keep Safety in Mind in the Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of your home. The place where memories are made over baking cookies with grandma, pouring over homework with dad and pizza nights on Fridays with the whole family, while mom tries to take a picture of faces covered with sauce.

Keep this space safe with the following fire prevention strategies:

Watch What You Heat!

The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking. Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. Always keep a lid nearby when you are cooking. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. Do not move the pan. To keep the fire from restarting, leave the lid on until the pan has cooled.

Keep Your Fire Extinguisher Close and Your Oven Mitt Closer

When there's no air, there's no flame. Keep an oven mitt and lid close to the stove. Should a small pan fire occur, use the oven mitt to grab the lid to slide over the pan - smothering the flame. Once the lid is in place, turn the stove element to the off position. If a fire occurs in the oven, leave the door closed and shut off the element.

Be sure to also have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and know how to use it just in case. Need an easy way to remember how to use one – use the acronym PASS:

P – Pull the pin.
A – Aim at the base of the fire.
S – Squeeze the handle.
S – Sweep from side to side.

Stop, Drop and Roll

When cooking be sure to wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves. Avoid loose clothing that could catch fire. If your clothes do catch fire, don’t hesitate, immediately drop to the floor and roll until the flames are extinguished.

Cooking With Kids

It is easier said than done but keep some special activities handy for kids, or have another adult supervise them while you’re cooking. Having a “kid free zone” of at least three feet (one metre) around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is being prepared/carried will keep you and the rest of your family safe.

If in Doubt Just Get Out

If you have any doubt about fighting a small fire in the kitchen, just leave and close the door behind you to help contain the fire. Call 9-1-1 and wait for help to arrive.

Want more cooking safety resources?

Check out the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) website and the helpful safety tip sheets below you can print off and place on your fridge or chat with your family about in more detail: