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What to do if…
your oven or stove will not turn off and you are worried it is unsafe

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Move people away, keep anything flammable away from the appliance, and shut off the energy source only if you can do it safely. For suspected gas, fire, heavy smoke, or immediate danger, leave the building and call 911 or your gas utility’s emergency number from outside or another safe location.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t keep forcing knobs, buttons, or touch controls if they seem stuck, sparking, or unusually hot.
  • Don’t pour water on a grease fire or on hot electrical parts.
  • Don’t use light switches, doorbells, garage door openers, plugs, or appliances if you smell gas or suspect a gas leak.
  • Don’t pull, drag, or move a gas range to inspect it or reach behind it.
  • Don’t take the stove, oven, control panel, or gas connection apart.
  • Don’t go back inside after leaving for a suspected gas leak, fire, or heavy smoke until responders or the utility say it is safe.

What to do now

  1. Move people and pets away from the kitchen. Keep children, pets, towels, paper, packaging, curtains, oven mitts, and other flammable items away from the stove, cooktop, and oven.

  2. If there are flames or an active fire:

    • If the fire is small and you can do it without getting close to flames or smoke, turn the control to OFF.
    • For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed.
    • For a pan or grease fire, do not use water; if it is safe, slide a lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
    • If there is any doubt, leave, close the door behind you if you can, and call 911 from outside.

  3. Treat it as gas-related if you know the appliance uses gas, see a gas flame, see a gas line, hear hissing, or smell rotten eggs or sulfur. A dual-fuel range may use both gas and electricity, so do not assume one shutoff fixes everything.

  4. If you smell gas or suspect a leak:

    • Leave the building immediately.
    • Do not touch electrical switches, plugs, appliance controls, thermostats, phones, or doorbells while inside.
    • From outside or another safe location, call 911 or your gas utility’s emergency number.
    • Do not re-enter until responders or the utility say it is safe.

  5. If it is electric and there is no gas smell or fire:

    • Turn the appliance controls to OFF if they respond normally.
    • If the appliance keeps heating, go to the electrical panel only if it is safe to reach.
    • Switch off the breaker labelled for the range, oven, cooktop, or kitchen appliance.
    • If you cannot identify the breaker and there is smoke, a burning smell, overheating, or sparking, leave and call 911.

  6. If it is gas and a burner flame will not go out:

    • Turn the burner control to OFF once.
    • If the flame stays on, use the gas shutoff valve only if it is already safely reachable without moving the range.
    • If the valve is behind the range, hard to reach, or you smell gas, leave and call 911 or your gas utility’s emergency number from a safe location.

  7. Once power or gas is off, keep the appliance out of service.

    • Put a visible note on it: “Do not use — unsafe.”
    • Keep the area clear.
    • Do not restore power or gas to test whether it is fixed.

  8. Arrange safety help before using it again.

    • For a gas appliance concern, contact your gas utility for safety guidance and a licensed plumber or qualified appliance technician.
    • For an electric appliance concern, contact a licensed electrician or qualified appliance technician.
    • If you rent, notify your landlord or property manager and say that the appliance has been shut off for safety.

What can wait

  • You do not need to troubleshoot the control board, igniter, knob, thermostat, or model number right now.
  • You do not need to decide today whether to repair or replace the appliance.
  • You do not need to move the appliance while it is hot, hard-wired, connected to gas, or difficult to reach.
  • You do not need to prove what failed before asking for emergency or utility help.

Important reassurance

This can feel urgent and frightening, but the first goal is narrow: get people away, reduce fire risks, and stop gas or electricity where it is safe to do so. Once the appliance is isolated or you are outside waiting for help, you have taken the main first step.

Scope note

These are first steps only, meant to stabilize the situation. Later decisions about repair, replacement, wiring, gas connectors, landlord duties, or insurance may need help from a qualified professional or the appropriate service provider.

Important note

This guide is general information for immediate safety steps, not legal, medical, financial, therapeutic, engineering, or other professional advice. If there is fire, heavy smoke, a strong gas odor, suspected carbon monoxide, or anyone feels unwell, leave to safety and contact emergency services right away.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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