Keep your eyes on those Fries!

Grease and oil used for frying food can catch fire faster than most people realize.

The speed with which frying oils can ignite may help explain why grease was identified as a contributing factor in 27 percent of the 2,085 fires in a recent 10-city study on the behavioral causes of residential cooking fires conducted by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) and the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM).

"Grease fires account for a significant number of cooking fires," stated AHAM President Bob Holding. "Everyone should know how to prevent these fires."

To avoid grease fires, cooks should remember to:

• Stay in the kitchen when frying foods;
• Keep the cooktop clean to prevent grease build up; and
• Turn off the range when done frying.

"Protect yourself and your family by learning how to prevent grease fires," said NASFM President Tom Brace. "If a fire starts, it can get big very quickly. Everyone should leave the house. Call the fire department from a neighbor's house. In Peabody, dial 9-1-1. Stay out of the house once you've left."

If you decide to fight a grease fire:

• Keep handy the lid for the pan in which you are cooking -- if a fire starts in a pan, slide the pan lid on and turn off the heat. Leave the pan in place until it cools, or at least 30 minutes;
• Use only a multipurpose chemical fire extinguisher or baking soda on a fire; and
• Don't try to carry a pan with burning grease to the sink or outside.

Courtesy of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, a full-service trade association representing the manufacturers of major and portable appliances sold in the United States, and suppliers to the industry.