Last year there over 94,000 home fires associated with cooking equipment, resulted in 400 deaths, 4,700 injuries and $419.1 million in direct property damage. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires. Three in every 10 reported home fires start in the kitchen - more than any other place in the home.

• Never leave cooking food on the stovetop unattended, and keep a close eye on food cooking in the oven.
• Keep cooking areas clean and clear of combustibles: potholders, towels, rags, curtains, packaging and paper.
• Keep children and pets away from cooking areas by creating a three-foot safety zone around the stove.
• Turn pot handles inward so they can't be bumped and children can't grab them.
• Wear short, close fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire, or tangle with a handle - spilling the hot contents.
• Never use a wet oven mitt; it can scald if the moisture in the mitt is heated.
• Food cooked in a microwave can be dangerously hot. Remove the lid or covering from microwaved food carefully to prevent steam burns.
• Always keep a potholder or oven mitt and lid handy. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, put on an oven mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. Leave the lid on until both the pan and lid are completely cool.
• If there is an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent it from burning you and your clothing. The fire will go out because there will not be sufficient oxygen for the fire to continue burning.
• If there is a microwave fire, keep the door closed and unplug the microwave.
• If you have had a kitchen fire, call the Fire Department, (503) 681-6166 to make sure the fire is all the way out! If an electrical appliance was involved have the appliance serviced before use.