Never meant to make it a big deal, Peg, just a link back to the other list. Probably should have linked instead back to Rick's description of lard running all over his stove and kitchen floor!

I'd add to Mary's list to never store anything in the oven. And even if you never store anything in the oven, still remember to look in before turning it on. I use a pizza stone every so often, and while it doesn't hurt anything to leave it in there when I'm baking other stuff, I don't want to set a cold pan on the hot stone and possibly crack it, so have to sometimes take it out to cool on top before putting whatever I was going to bake into the oven.

When I had work done on the house last summer the electrician talked about the fire code--smoke detectors required in the bedrooms, battery and electric, but no such code for near the kitchen. I have a battery operated smoke detector in the laundry room next to the kitchen, figuring this is close enough that if a real fire should start I'd hear it quickly, but it won't go off just because the oil smokes on the skillet before putting something in it to cook.


SRS