What to do if there’s a fire in your kitchen

More house fires start in the kitchen than in any other room. Of these, most are caused by grease. Here’s what to do if a fire breaks out while you’re cooking.

If the fire is contained and it isn’t spreading quickly, you can extinguish it. The first step is to eliminate the heat source. If it’s possible to do so without injuring yourself, turn off the oven or stove.

Next, you need to deprive the fire of oxygen. In the case of an oven fire, leave the door closed and wait for the fire to extinguish itself. If it’s in a pan, smother it with a lid or baking sheet. To do this safely, hold the cover in front of you like a shield and cover the pot from front to back. Don’t throw the lid on the fire, as you risk spreading the flames around.

If you don’t have a cover, baking soda can be used to smother the flames. However, you’ll likely need more than the small box you keep in your fridge. You can also use a fire extinguisher, as long as it’s rated B, which designates that it’s safe to use on grease fires. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire.

If the fire is burning too hotly to be smothered or it begins to spread fast, evacuate the house and call the fire department immediately.