Fire Prevention Week 2013: Tips to Keep you Safe!

Fire Prevention Week 2013: Prevent Kitchen Fires

Fire Prevention Week has been observed throughout North America since 1922. It is an opportunity to focus public attention on fire safety and fire prevention. Because cooking is the leading cause of fires in the home, this year’s theme is “Prevent Kitchen Fires.”

In honour of Fire Prevention Week 2013, we would like to share fire safety tips to help prevent kitchen fires in your community:

Most kitchen fires start when cooking is left unattended.

The telephone, the doorbell or the hustle and bustle of a busy home can easily distract people from their cooking. Leaving cooking unattended is the number one cause of cooking fires. The fire service in Canada urges everyone to stay in the kitchen when you cook. If you must leave, turn off the stove.

Always wear tight-fitting or rolled-up sleeves when cooking.

Often, kitchen fires result when loose fitting clothing comes into contact with hot stove burners. If your clothing catches fire, stop, drop to the ground and roll over and over to put out the fire.

Keep anything that can burn away from the stove.

Kitchen fires can occur when items are kept too close to the stove. Keep things such as cooking utensils, dishcloths, paper towels and pot holders a safe distance from the stove.

Drink Responsibly.

Many fatal fires are caused by people attempting to cook while under the influence of alcohol. Keep a close eye on anyone in your household who is drinking and attempts to cook.

Be prepared!

It is vital that you install working smoke alarms in your home so you can receive the early warning needed to safely escape a fire. Install a smoke alarm on every storey of your home and outside all sleeping areas. Larger homes may require additional smoke alarms. Test smoke alarms once a month and replace the battery once a year, or whenever the low-battery warning sounds.

Know what to do if the smoke alarms sound in an emergency.

You may have less than 60 seconds to safely escape a fire in your home. Develop a home fire escape plan before a fire starts and practice it with everyone in the household. Know your local emergency number. It may be 9-1-1 or the fire department’s phone number. Once you’ve escaped a fire, call the fire department from a neighbour’s home.

These fire safety tips are provided by the Office of the Fire Marshal. For more information about Fire Prevention Week and fire safety, click here.