The Crookston Fire Department would like to remind local residents to practice cooking safety. Cooking is the number one cause of home fires and home injuries. Crookston Firefighter Justin Johnson provides some tips on cooking safety including not cooking if you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol. “It’s always good to be on alert if you are sleeping or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove or stovetop,” said Johnson. “Have a kids-free zone of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food and drinks are prepared or carried. The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking and most cooking fires involve the kitchen stove. If you have a small grease fire and decide to fight slid a lid over the pan and turn over the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled. For oven fires turn off the heat and keep the door closed.”
COOK WITH CAUTION
- Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stovetop, so you can keep an eye on the food.
- Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently.
- Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot, and kids should stay three feet away.
- Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
- Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
- Keep knives out of the reach of children.
- Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
- Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children – up high in a locked cabinet.
- Never leave children alone in a room with a lit candle.
- Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.
