Seven kitchen fire rules for Indian homes

Why the kitchen needs watching

People call the kitchen the heart of the home. It is also one of the most common places for a fire to start, because heat, open flame, cooking oil and electrical appliances share one small room. Here are seven rules for keeping your kitchen safe. After them you will find what to do if oil catches fire in a kadhai, and some daily LPG habits.

1. Do not walk away from the stove
   • Unattended cooking is one of the leading causes of kitchen fires. Whether you are frying, boiling, grilling or baking, stay in the kitchen. If you must step away, switch off the stove or oven. One moment of distraction is enough for a fire to start and spread fast.
2. Keep cloth and paper away from the flame
   • Kitchen towels, paper towels, oven mitts and pot holders catch fire easily, so keep them away from the stove and other heat sources. Store them where there is no open flame or hot surface. A simple rule is to keep a “clear zone” around the cooking area.
3. Keep an eye on the oil
   • Cooking oils, especially those with low smoke points like olive oil, can ignite at high temperatures. When you deep-fry or pan-fry, use a thermometer to watch the temperature and do not let the oil overheat. Never add water to hot oil. It splatters and can start a fire. If the oil catches fire, follow the kadhai steps further down this page. Turn off the gas only if you can reach the knob safely, and slide a lid on from the side only if the flame is small and inside the pan. Use a Class F extinguisher only if you are trained and your way out is behind you.
4. Appliances
   Electrical appliances are everywhere in the kitchen, and they can start fires too. A few habits help.
   • Plug appliances straight into a wall socket instead of using an extension cord.
   • Unplug small appliances when you are done with them.
   • Check the cords regularly. If one is frayed or damaged, replace it.
5. Fit a smoke alarm
   • Put a smoke alarm in or near your kitchen so a fire is caught early. Place it a safe distance from the cooking area, though, to avoid false alarms triggered by cooking fumes. Test the alarms every month and change the batteries at least once a year, so that they work when you need them.
6. Keep an extinguisher within reach
   • Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen where you can reach it easily. For cooking-oil fires, look for a wet chemical extinguisher rated for Class F, which is how Indian Standards classify kitchen fires (Class K is the American name). Learn how to use it before you need it. Remember the “PASS” technique: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep.
7. Teach everyone to use the microwave properly
   A microwave is convenient, but it can cause trouble if used wrongly.
   • Never put metal containers or utensils in the microwave. They can spark and start a fire.
   • Use only containers labelled microwave-safe.
   • Supervise children when they use the microwave.

If oil catches fire in the kadhai

• Switch off the gas if you can reach the knob safely.
• If the flame is small and inside the pan, slide a metal lid or a flat steel plate on from the side, without leaning over the flame, to cut off the air.
• Leave the lid on and do not move the pan until it has cooled completely.
• Never pour water on it, and do not throw flour, salt or baking soda at it.
• If the fire spreads beyond the pan, get everyone out, close the kitchen door and call 101 or 112.

LPG, clothing and clutter in an Indian kitchen

• Never check for a gas leak with a lighted matchstick. If you smell gas, close the burner knobs and the regulator, put out every flame, including diyas and agarbattis, open doors and windows, do not touch electric switches, and call 1906 or your gas distributor.
• Switch off the regulator every night before you go to bed.
• Use a Suraksha LPG hose and change it before the expiry date printed on it, or at once if it cracks.
• Do not leave a pot boiling unattended. If it boils over, it can put out the flame and leave gas escaping.
• Keep curtains away from the window next to the stove.
• Loose dupattas, sleeves and saree pallus catch fire easily. Wear a cotton apron and tie loose ends back.
• Turn pan handles away from the edge of the platform so nobody knocks a pan over.
• Wipe grease off the stove, the wall behind it and the chimney filter regularly, because built-up fat can catch fire.

After the kitchen, check the rest of the house with our home fire safety score.

Do this today

A kitchen fire can start and grow in moments, which is why these habits should be in place before you need them. Tonight, switch off the regulator before you go to bed. Tomorrow, read the expiry date printed on your LPG hose and move the kitchen towels away from the stove.