The Redwood City Fire Department is partnering with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to promote the “Kitchen Safety Starts With You” campaign. Pay attention to fire prevention?, within the framework of Fire Prevention Week.
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 the NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Unsupervised cooking is the leading cause of kitchen fires and deaths.
“Year after year, cooking remains by far the leading cause of home fires, accounting for half (49 percent) of all home fires in the United States,” noted Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of outreach and advocacy.
“These numbers tell us that there is still a lot of work to do when it comes to better educating the public on ways to stay safe when cooking,” he added.
Redwood City Fire Chief Ray Iverson pointed out that a kitchen fire can grow quickly, "I've seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could have easily been prevented."
Given this, the Redwood City Fire Department offers these key safety tips to help reduce the risk of a kitchen fire:
- Be careful what you heat. Always be aware of 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 heat.
- Have a “child and pet free zone” at least 3 feet (1 meter) around the stove or grill and anywhere else where hot food or drinks are prepared or carried.
In support of this year's FPW campaign, the Redwood City Fire Department is hosting an open house. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., join them at Fire Station 9 to learn more about fire prevention and safety and for interactive exercises.
Although these meetings began last October 8, they will end tomorrow, October 14. Do not miss!
For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and kitchen safety, visit the site www.FPW.org. For fire safety fun for kids, visit Sparky.org.
You may be interested in: Half Moon Bay veterans honored for decades of service
