Tell them to put a lid on it! A good tip to share with your friends is to keep a large pot lid next to the stove whenever you're cooking. That way, if a fire starts in a pot, you can just slide the lid over it and turn off the burner.
Let them keep an eye on their frying. Try not to distract your friends from the kitchen while they're cooking, and if you notice them getting sidetracked, don't be afraid to remind them.
Clear the Clutter!
As some people get older, they get less adamant about keeping their stove area clear. Keep an eye out for clutter around their stoves. Combustible items, such as wooden or plastic cooking utensils, dish cloths, paper towels, and pot holders, can easily ignite if they are too close to a burner—or if they're resting on a wrong burner that is turned on by accident.
All combustibles should be a safe distance from the stove.
Prevent a fire—use a fryer!
Deep frying the old way is a major kitchen hazard. Oil heated in a pot on the stove can very easily overheat and burst into flames. New deep-fryers are thermostatically controlled, meaning the oil never gets hot enough to catch fire.
If you have a friend who still deep fries the old fashioned way, or uses an older unit that wouldn't have the thermostatic control, you might want to consider recommending a new one—or maybe even getting them one as a gift.
