From 2017-2021, cooking was the ….

From 2017-2021, cooking was the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, and the second leading cause of home fire deaths, according to a report by the National Fire Protection Association.

More than 25% of the people killed by cooking fires were asleep when they were fatally injured, according to the same report.

More than half of the nonfatal injuries occurred when people tried to control the fire themselves.

The Orange County Fire Authority recommends the following safety precautions to avoid cooking fires:

• Stay in the kitchen or cooking area when frying, grilling or broiling food.

• Check food often while cooking. If entertaining guests, use a kitchen timer as a reminder that the stove, oven or grill is on.

• Wear short, fitted or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.

• Keep cooking areas clear. Pot holders, paper towels, wooden utensils and even cookbooks can be fire hazards if left too close to the stove, oven, grill or other kitchen appliances.

• Clean cooking surfaces regularly to prevent grease buildup.

• Make sure children and pets stay at least 3 feet from the oven, stove or grill.

• Test smoke alarms and never disable them while cooking.

What to do if there is a fire:

• If the fire is on the stove, cover the pan with a lid and turn off the stove. Never try to move the pan to the sink and never pour water on a grease fire.

• If the fire is in the oven or microwave, keep the door closed and turn off the appliance.

• A multipurpose fire extinguisher can be used on a small cooking fire. An extinguisher should only be used if the fire is not spreading, smoke and heat have not filled the area, and you have a clear escape path.

For more information on fire safety, visit https://ocfa.org/ residents/#home-safety.