Put the lid on kitchen fires (courtesy of Chicago Fire Department)
Parker-Holsman Co.    1461 E. 57th Street    Chicago, IL 60637    773-493-2525 Your Neighborhood Realtor since 1931

Cooking... especially when it involves grease... is one of the leading causes of fire in the home. And while kitchen fires seldom kill people, they injure thousands and cause property damage in the hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

The Chicago Fire Department offers these tips on how to prevent cooking fires and how to fight them if they get started.

• Pay attention to your cooking. Don't overheat grease. Watch grease overflows that can start fires. If you have to leave the stove to answer the phone or doorbell, turn down the heat. If you'll be gone more than a few minutes, turn it off.
• If your children help you cook, make them aware of cooking hazards. Turn skillet handles and hot handles towards the center of the stove to prevent accidental overturning.
• Don't leave towels or napkins on or near the stove. DOn't wear frilly garments - especially those with loose, floopy sleeves - while cooking.
• Keep a Class ABC fire extinquisher in or near the kitchen. An ABC rating indicates the fire extinguisher can b eused on fires involving grease, paper towels, electrical apppliances, and other materials commonly found in the kitchen.
• If the grease fire is small, you may be able to stop it with a handful of baking SODA (bicarbonate of soda). BUT, don't use baking powder, which contains flour or starch and could spread the fire. And never use water on a grease fire; it also increases the chance of this type of fire getting out of hand.
• Always have a pot lid handy to smother a small grease fire.
• Don't try to move or carry a pan in which there is a grease fire. Even though moving the pan is a common reaction when a grease fire is discovered, it often results in burns to the carrier and additional fire damage.
• If the fire is a big one, don't try to fight it - call the fire department.

Home Fire Safety Checklist

• If you smoke, use large ashtrays and make sure all smoking materials are out before getting rid of the ashes.
• Install and properly maintain smoke detectors throughout your house. Test your smoke detectors periodically.
• Keep an ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher handy and know how to use it. Follow manufacturer's inspection recommendations and recharge after each use.
• Develop a family fire escape plan and practice it every few months.
• Clean the rubbish - old papers, oily rags, magazines, and furniture - out of your basement, attic, and garage.
• Keep gasoline and other flammable liquids stored in approved containers, in the garage outside your home.
• Use proper fuses in your fuse box.
• Check the insulation on all electrical cords. ALso check plugs and receptacles.
• Keep matches and lighters safely stored and away from small children.
• If you have a fire place, keep your chimney clean and use a fire screen.
• Space heaters must be well ventilated and well shielded. Keep them out of traffic paths and away from furniture and curtains.

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