FIRE PREVENTIONWEEK
Firefighters raise awareness and offer tips to prevent kitchen fires
The Troy Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Serve up Fire Safety in the Kitchen.”
This campaign works to educate residents about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe. Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 4 through Oct. 10.
Each year during Fire PreventionWeek, the Troy FireDepartment hosts their Fire Station OpenHouse. This year due to COVID-19, the open house is going virtual. Troy firefighters have produced videos that will be released throughout the week on their social media accounts.
“We will also have a daily contest for kids and a home fire safetyGive-A-Way eachevening,” saidLt. DanMahrle. “We understand the importance of getting home fire safety information to our residents, and going virtual seems to be the safest way to do that during the pandemic. We are excited to try a new way to reach out to our residents during this year’s Fire Prevention Week.”
According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Almost half of reported home fires started in the kitchen. Two-thirds of home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials. Cooking related fires also continues to be the leading cause of fires in the city ofTroy.
“The most important step you should take before making a meal is to ‘ Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen,’” said Mahrle. “A cooking fire can growquickly. I have seenmany homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”
The Troy Fire Department shared safety tips to help prevent cooking related fire:
• 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 yourself that you’re cooking.
• Be alertwhen cooking, and don’t cookwhile sleepy, or after takingmedication, drugs or alcohol that makes you drowsy.
• Always keep an oven mitt and pan lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan to smother the flame. Turn off the burner, and leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.
• Have a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities, follow the Troy Fire Department’s Facebook page at facebook.com/TroyMIFireDept or search “Troy Fire Department Troy, Michigan” on YouTube.