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Keep a watchful eye on your food at all times. No, scrolling through TikTok does not count as multitasking.
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Wear appropriate clothing. As tempting as it may be to cook in your birthday suit, we recommend sticking to something a little more flame-resistant, because oil on your body should be saved activities other than cooking.
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Make sure your smoke alarm is in working order. Test monthly and keep it clean.
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Keep a fire extinguisher nearby. Because let's be real, trying to put out a grease or oil fire with a bottle of whatever you have nearby is not the way to go. Also, using water on oil fires is extremely dangerous and can spread the fire rapidly.
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Turn pot handles inward so they don't accidentally get knocked over. Unless you want your kitchen to look like a scene out of a cartoon.
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Keep your stovetop clean and free of grease buildup. Because the only thing worse than setting your kitchen on fire is doing it with a side of old bacon grease.
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If a small pot fire does break out, smother it with a fire blanket, pot lid or wet tea towel. Turn off the power to the stove top if safe to do so. And no, blowing on it like it's a birthday candle won't work.
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Keep a safe distance between your cooking area and any flammable items, such as paper towels or curtains. Trust us, they won't appreciate the heat.
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Avoid cooking when you're sleepy or under the influence of alcohol. Because drunk cooking might sound like a good idea, but is a far worse option than Uber eats or a pizza delivered to you.
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And finally, practice good judgement. Because as they say, "where there's smoke, there's fire" is not a proverb you want to experience firsthand.
Note:Â Always call 000 and have the Fire Service attend any fire in your home no matter how small so they can check it is out and safe.
