Campus Connection

·         Cook only with equipment designed and intended for cooking. 

·         Electric ranges or stoves have a higher risk of fires, injuries and property damage, compared to gas ranges or stoves. However, gas ranges or stoves have a higher risk of fire deaths. 

·         Do NOT leave flammable materials, such as potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, towels, or curtains around the stove.

·         Plug microwave ovens and other cooking appliances directly into an outlet. Never use an extension cord for a cooking appliance, as it can overload the circuit and cause a fire.

·         Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.

·         If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while the food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you when something is done.

·         Stay alert! To prevent cooking fires, you have to be alert. You won't be if you are sleepy, have been drinking alcohol, or have taken medicine that makes you drowsy.

·         Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled up sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire if it comes into contact with a gas flame or electric burner.

If Your Clothes Catch Fire

If your clothes catch fire – stop, drop, and roll. Stop immediately; drop to the ground;   roll over and over or back and forth to put out the fire.  Running when your clothes are on fire will only fan the flames, causing more injury. 

Cool a Burn With Running Water

If someone gets burned, run cool water over the burn for 15 minutes.  This will prevent continued burning and relieve some of the pain.  If the burn is blistered, see a doctor as soon as possible. Burns may be worse than they seem at first.  If the burn is charred, involves the face, or covers more than 5% of the body, call 911.

How and When to Fight Cooking Fires

·         When in doubt, just get out. When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.  Activate the building fire alarm system on the way out.  Call 7-1-1 on a campus phone or 9-1-1 on any other phone after you leave.

·         If you do try to put out the fire, make sure that others are already getting out and you have a clear path to the exit.

·         Always keep an oven mitt and a lid nearby when you are cooking. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan (make sure you are wearing the oven mitt). Turn off the burner. Do not move the pan. To keep the fire from restarting, leave the lid on until the pan is completely cool.

·         In case of an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to contain flames.

·         If you have a fire in your microwave oven, turn it off immediately and keep the door closed. Never open the door until the fire is completely out. Unplug the appliance only if you can safely reach the outlet.

·         After a fire, both ovens and microwaves should be checked and/or serviced before being used again.

Nuisance Smoke Alarms

·         Move smoke alarms as far away from the kitchen as recommended by the manufacturer and/or install a smoke alarm with a pause button.

·         If a smoke alarm sounds during normal cooking, press the pause button if the smoke alarm has one. Open the door or window or fan the area with a towel to get the air moving. Do not disable the smoke alarm or take out the batteries.

·         Treat every smoke alarm activation as a likely fire and react quickly and safely to the alarm.