Fire Prevention Month: Cooking Safety
In recognition of Fire Prevention Month, NYCHA’s Fire Safety Department would like to provide the following information to help keep you and your family safe.
Cooking with Caution
- Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, do not use the oven or stovetop.
- Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen – even for just a short period of time – turn off the stove/oven.
- Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, or curtains — away from your stovetop.
How to Extinguish a Grease Cooking Fire
- On the stovetop, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it has completely cooled.
- For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
- Never put water on a grease fire. Instead, pour baking soda, as it can blanket the flames and put it out.
NOTE: Residents can request stove knob covers from NYCHA to protect their family from the stove/oven accidentally turning on.
Safety Tips for Other Cooking Appliances
- Always use cooking equipment – air fryers, slow cookers, electric skillets, hot plates, pressure cooker, or griddles – that are approved by a qualified testing laboratory.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on where and how to use the appliance.
- Do not leave home while using any cooking appliance.
- Make sure air fryers, slow cookers, electric skillets, hot plates, pressure cookers, or griddles are completely cooled down before washing them.
- Always have enough open space around your appliances for any steam to ventilate and never cover any valves.
- Unplug all appliances before leaving the home.
