What action to take on a cooking fire?

1. Stay calm and assess the situation. Do not panic. Keep your wits about you and think clearly. Identify the source of the fire and determine its severity.

2. Alert others in the house. Yell "fire" and evacuate everyone from the house immediately. Gather everyone at a designated meeting place outside the house.

3. If the fire is small and contained to the stovetop, use a fire extinguisher to smother the flames. Aim the extinguisher at the base of the fire and sweep back and forth until it is completely extinguished.

4. If the fire has spread beyond the stovetop or is too large to handle with a fire extinguisher, do not attempt to extinguish it yourself. Leave the house immediately and call the fire department.

5. Close all doors and windows to prevent the fire from spreading. This will also help to contain the smoke and fumes.

6. Do not re-enter the house until it has been declared safe by the fire department. If you must re-enter the house to retrieve essential items, wear a mask or wet cloth over your nose and mouth to protect yourself from smoke inhalation.