The National Fire Protection Association finds cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries in the United States. These fires make up 48% of residential fires and account for 21% of home fire fatalities. 1/3 of those fires were the result of unattended cooking.
What You Should Know About Kitchen Fire Safety
It is vitally important to remain in the kitchen, at the ready especially when frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling.
Housekeeping is also extremely important. Make sure combustible items are kept away from the cooking surface and clean the cooking surface/oven regularly.
Have a lid for your pan near the cooking surface, ready if needed/place lid over the burning pan, if you can do so safely and then turn off the burner.
Never attempt to remove a pan that is on fire from a burner, and never use water to extinguish the fire.
In the event of an oven fire turn off the oven and keep the oven door closed.
Use an extinguisher only if you are familiar with the operation and never discharge directly into the pan.
If the fire has not been extinguished or has spread beyond your control, get everyone out of the house and call 911.