Montréal, 30 March 2015 - Over the past several weeks, fires caused by cooking accidents have resulted in several deaths and serious injuries in Quebec and the United States.

The Montréal fire department (SIM) wants to remind everyone of the importance of cooking safely. After all, most residential fires in Quebec start in the kitchen.

There are always risks involved when cooking – you have to be careful not to burn yourself or to start a fire. Keep safety in mind in the kitchen, for your own sake and that of the people around you.

Here are some simple and effective tips:

• First of all, never leave anything cooking unattended.
• Never leave a cooking and/or heating appliance (crock pot, fondue, food warmer, hot plate, etc.) unattended.
• Don’t store anything inside the oven or leave any clutter on the stovetop.
• Keep children away from the stove.
• Always have a lid handy. If it isn’t the lid that matches the pan you’re using, make sure it’s large enough to cover the pan completely.
• Keep all handles pointed inward, toward the back of the stove, out of children’s reach. 
• When preparing food, avoid clothing with loose sleeves that can catch fire easily if they touch a hot element.
• Use an element that is close to the size of the pan. 
• If you are going to be frying any food, use a CSA-approved fryer with a thermostat. You should also follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions.

What should you do if a fire starts in the kitchen?

• If a fire starts in a pan, don’t throw anything on it – especially not water on an oil fire.
• To put out a fire in a frying pan or saucepan, cover it with a proper-size lid and turn off the element. 
• Never try to move a burning pan.
• Even if you think you have extinguished a cooking fire, don’t take any chances.Call 9-1-1. The fire may have spread inside the stove hood.

The fire department recommends that you have a functional smoke alarm on every floor of your home, for your own safety. Smoke alarms are mandatory, in fact, under municipal by-laws.

For more fire safety tips, see the “Prevention and Education” section of the SIM website.