The East Grand Forks Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week (FPW) for more than 100 years, to promote this year’s FPW campaign, “Cooking Safety Starts with YOU.” Pay attention to fire prevention.” The campaign educates everyone about simple but meaningful 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.
“Year after year, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires by far, accounting for half (49 percent) of all U.S. home fires,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of outreach and advocacy at NFPA. “These numbers tell us that there is still much work to do to better educate the public about ways to stay safe when cooking.”
The East Grand Forks Fire Department encourages all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, “Cooking safety starts with you,” said Chief Boushee. “A cooking fire can proliferate. I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”
East Grand Forks Fire Department offers these essential safety tips to help reduce the risk of a cooking fire-
- 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 the pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the cover over the pan and turn off the burner.
- Have a “kid- and pet-free zone” of at least 3 feet (1 meter) around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
The East Grand Forks Fire Department is hosting an Open House supporting this year’s FPW campaign on Monday, October 2, at Fire Station #1 415 4th St. NW from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking safety, visit www.fpw.org. For fire safety fun for kids, visit sparky.org.
To view the event flyer, click here.
To view the cooking safety flyer, click here.
