MFRD Serves Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen During Fire Prevention Week

With the arrival of the month of October comes Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 4-Oct 10), and the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department and National Fire Protection Association are ready to “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!”

The Mobile Fire-Rescue Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years —to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!” The campaign works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take 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. Almost half (44%) of reported home fires started in the kitchen. Two-thirds (66%) of home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.

“We know cooking fires can be prevented,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice-president of outreach and advocacy. “Staying in the kitchen, using a timer, and avoiding distractions such as electronics or TV are steps everyone can take to keep families safe in their homes.”

 The most important step you should take before making a meal is to “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!”

A cooking fire can grow quickly. MFRD firefighters have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.

• Never leave cooking food unattended. Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling. If you have to leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
• If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.
• Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
• Keep things that can catch fire – potholders, oven mitts, paper or plastic items, curtains, dish towels – away from the stovetop.
• If you have a stove fire, never attempt to move a hot pan/pot, and do not attempt to extinguish a stove fire with water.
• Maintain working smoke alarms and class-ABC fire extinguishers in your home.
• Always keep and oven mitt and lid nearby when you’re cooking. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. Do not move the pan. To keep the fire from restarting, leave the lid on until the pan is completely cool.
• When in doubt, just get out and call the fire department.

For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking fire prevention, visit www.fpw.org.