New tips aim to increase fire safety in the kitchen 
As part of Fire Prevention Week the NVFC is issuing tips on preventing kitchen fires, burns and injuries
It's Fire Prevention Week, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and Fire Corps have joined forces with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), firefighters, and safety advocates nationwide to increase awareness about fire safety. This year's campaign focuses on burn awareness and prevention.
Visit the NFPA's Fire Prevention Week website at www.firepreventionweek.org and the Fire Corps Fire Prevention Week Resource Center at http://www.firecorps.org/FirePreventionWeek for information and resources you can use to help keep your community safe.
Each day during Fire Prevention Week, Fire Corps is providing tips on an important fire prevention and safety topic. Distribute them in your community or use them as part of your own Fire Prevention Week campaign.
Many fires, burns, and injuries occur in the kitchen.
The following tips will help keep you and your family safe:
- Always use pot holders or oven mitts when putting food in or taking food out of the oven and handling hot items on the stove
- Don't put any hot foods or liquids near the edge of the counter or table as they could spill, fall, or get knocked over and cause burns
- Always make sure the stovetop is clean as residue grease can catch fire
- If a fire should occur on the stove, carefully slide a pan lid over the flames (make sure you are wearing an oven mitt) and then turn off the heat
- If a fire should occur in the oven, keep the oven door closed and turn off the heat to smother the fire
- Never leave appliance cords dangling over the counter as children or pets could pull them and injure themselves
- When microwaving water, let it sit a minute before removing the cup as water heated past the boiling point can erupt out of the cup
- When using a microwave oven, make sure the containers and wrappings are microwave-safe. Never put metal (such as aluminum foil, staples, metal utensils, etc.) in a microwave
- Remember that food heated in a microwave can be very hot and use care when removing it or opening lids or other packaging/covers after heating
- Puncture plastic pouches and plastic wrap coverings before heating items in a microwave to reduce the risk of steam burns
