When firefighters respond to a kitchen fire, the occupants frequently say, "I only left the kitchen for a minute". That is all it takes for a fire to start; the consequences can be devastating.

To reduce your chance of having a kitchen fire, the South Jordan Fire Department offers the following safety tips:

• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, broiling, or boiling food.
• If you must leave the room, even for a few moments, turn off the stove.
• When you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home, and use a timer to remind you.
• If you have young children, use the stove's back burners whenever possible. Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the stove.
• When you cook, wear clothing with tight-fitting sleeves.
• Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels, and anything else that can burn, away from your stovetop.
• Clean up food and grease from burners and stovetops.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Know what types of fire it will put out and learn how to use it.

Cooking fires spread very rapidly. If you are unable to quickly put it out, implement your home escape plan and call 911 from a safe location.

If you would like additional information, please contact the South Jordan Fire Department at 254-0948.