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1. Home
2. Home Fire Safety
3. Kitchen and Appliances
4. Kitchen fire safety factsheet

Kitchen fire safety factsheet

Is my kitchen fire safe?

For maximum fire safety in the kitchen the NSW Fire Brigades recommends the following:

• Unattended cooking can cause fires; if you must leave the kitchen whilst cooking turn off the hotplate.
• Wear clothing with close fitting sleeves when cooking.
• Keep children away from hotplates and ovens whilst cooking; consider installing a stove guard.
• Tea towels, oven mitts and other flammable items should be kept well away from stoves and cooktops.
• Use cooking oil carefully; heat it slowly; use the right size saucepan, and keep the heat low enough to avoid fat splatters.
• Turn pot and pan handles inwards so they won't be knocked over.
• Clean your stove grill after each use and clean range hood filters and all kitchen cooking appliances regularly.
• Water does not put out fat fires - never throw water on burning oil. Putting water on this type of fire can cause the fire to spread more rapidly and also produce horrific burn injuries.
• Install a fire extinguisher and fire blanket in the kitchen and familiarise yourself with their operation. They should be located at least 1 metre away from the stove and between the stove and the nearest exit.
• Consider installing non slip matting around the stove and sink area.
• If cooking oil catches fire, turn off the hotplate and slide the lid over the pan or use a fire blanket to smother the fire. Don't carry pans of hot or burning oil through the house as this may spread the fire and cause severe injuries. Allow the oil to cool before removing the lid as the oil may re-ignite.
• If a kitchen fire occurs and you don't feel confident to attempt to put it out, switch off the appliance, leave and call the Fire Brigade on triple zero (000) from a phone in a safe location.
• Ensure that cooking appliances are turned off after use.

Kitchen fire safety factsheet

Microwave oven fire safety

Every year cooking appliances and equipment, including microwave ovens, are involved in causing many house fires. The NSWFB have put together a safety factsheet on how to keep and use your microwave oven to reduce the risk of fire.

Microwave oven fire safety factsheet

Other safety tips

• Ensure that all electrical appliances are in good working order.
• Special smoke alarms for kitchen areas are available; consider installing one but be aware of potential false alarms due to fumes from cooking.