Practice Cooking Safety during Fire Prevention Week

County and city officials are joining the National Fire Protection Association, or NFPA, to celebrate the 2023 Fire Prevention Week, which began last Sunday and runs through tomorrow. 

This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme is cooking safety.

The campaign works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take when cooking to keep themselves and those around them safe. According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires and deaths.  

Tips from local and national firefighting professionals include:

• Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking. 
• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. It’s important to leave the pan covered until it cools down.
• Have a “kid- and pet-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
• If an oven fire occurs, turn off the heat and keep the oven door shut. 
• If you’re unsure about handling a small fire, the campaign advises to focus on your safety. Leave the building right away and shut the door to help keep the fire inside.
• Once you’re safe outside, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number. 

Lorraine Carli, vice president of outreach and advocacy at NFPA said, “Year after year, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires by far, accounting for half (49 percent) of all U.S. home fires, These numbers tell us that there is still much work to do when it comes to better educating the public about ways to stay safe when cooking.”

For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and learning the sounds of fire safety, visit www.fpw.org.