FOX5 Vegas - KVVUHoliday cooking tips from the Clark County Fire Department

Holiday cooking tips from the Clark County Fire Department

When cooking:

• Stay in the kitchen so you do not leave cooking food unattended.

• Always supervise children in cooking areas.

• Keep flammable materials – such as oven mitts, utensils, wrappers and towels – away from the stove.

• Stay alert. If you are tired or consuming alcohol, don't cook. Being tired or under the influence of alcohol impairs your judgment, making you more likely to make mistakes. Every year, fires are started when someone unintentionally turns on or forgets to turn off their oven or burners.

• Have a multi-purpose, ABC-rated fire extinguisher nearby. Every kitchen should have one.

If you have a cooking fire:

• For a small, stove-top fire, turn off the burner; then put a lid on the pan or pot to smother the fire.

• For an oven fire, turn off the oven and keep the door closed.

• Do not use water to put out a grease fire. Water will not extinguish a grease fire; instead water will splash the burning grease out of the pan and spread the fire. Use a lid, baking soda or fire extinguisher on the flames.

• Don't take risks with fire. When in doubt, get out of the home and call 911. Close the door behind you to help contain the fire. Nationally, more than half of all reported home cooking fire injuries occurred when the victims tried to fight the fire themselves.

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