Flash Left Edge
City of Edina Link
City of Edina Fire Department



Press releases

Edina Fire Department reminds residents to use caution in kitchen.

Edina, Minn., June 5, 2008 -- Unattended cooking fires continue to be the primary cause of home fires in Edina, according to the Edina Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Bureau. Since the first of the year, the Department has responded to 10 calls resulting from cooking-related fires. According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), cooking fires are also the No. 1 cause of home fires and home fire injuries nationwide.

“Unattended cooking has been the leading cause of fires in Edina for some time,” said Edina Fire Marshal Tom Jenson. “But over the last three months, we’ve really seen the trend pick up. We’d like to remind residents to always keep the kitchen in sight when cooking to help avoid these dangerous fires.”

The NFPA has provided some safety tips intended to help reduce cooking-related fires.

  • Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
  • Always use cooking equipment tested and approved by a recognized testing facility.
  • Keep anything that can catch fire -- potholders, towels or curtains -- away from your stovetop.
  • Have a "kid-free zone" of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
  • Wear short, close-fitting or tightly-rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire.
  • Never use a wet oven mitt as it presents a scald danger if the moisture in the mitt is heated.
  • Always keep an oven mitt and lid nearby when you're cooking. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, put on an oven mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. Don't remove the lid until it is completely cool.
  • If there is an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you and your clothing. Have the oven serviced before you use it again.

For more information on kitchen fires and prevention, visit www.CityofEdina.com/Fire or call the Edina Fire Department at 952-826-0339.