Stove catching fire?

So obviously this is super dirty I know! I just ordered new drip pans, buuuuuut do you see where that hole is in the middle that I pointed to with the arrow? There’s like burnt black stuff inside and I just wanted to know can I still cook with that being there without a fire possibly starting? This is the first time I saw it so I don’t even know how long it’s been there but I can’t clean it either way til my fiancé gets home so I was just wondering?