Fire Prevention Month: Cooking Safety

In recognition of Fire Prevention Month, NYCHA’s Fire Safety Department would like to provide the following information to help keep you and your family safe.

Cooking with Caution

• Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, do not use the oven or stovetop.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen – even for just a short period of time – turn off the stove/oven.
• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, or curtains — away from your stovetop.

How to Extinguish a Grease Cooking Fire

• On the stovetop, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it has completely cooled.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
• Never put water on a grease fire. Instead, pour baking soda, as it can blanket the flames and put it out.

NOTE: Residents can request stove knob covers from NYCHA to protect their family from the stove/oven accidentally turning on.

Safety Tips for Other Cooking Appliances

• Always use cooking equipment – air fryers, slow cookers, electric skillets, hot plates, pressure cooker, or griddles – that are approved by a qualified testing laboratory.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on where and how to use the appliance.
• Do not leave home while using any cooking appliance.
• Make sure air fryers, slow cookers, electric skillets, hot plates, pressure cookers, or griddles are completely cooled down before washing them.
• Always have enough open space around your appliances for any steam to ventilate and never cover any valves.
• Unplug all appliances before leaving the home.