Fire Prevention Week: October 8 - 14
by Town of High River
06/10/2023
Community
Theme: Cooking Safety Starts with You. Pay Attention to Fire Prevention
HIGH RIVER — Next week marks Fire Prevention Week and this year’s theme focuses on kitchen safety.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. The same statistics apply to Canada. 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 per cent) of all home fires.
“A kitchen fire can happen so quickly and have devastating consequences,” says Stew Corbett, Fire Inspector for the High River Fire Department. “As a fire fighter, I’ve seen many homes and apartments severely damaged from kitchen fires, and worse than that, lives and families changed forever.” He goes on to add, “most of them could have been prevented by just following basic safety rules.”
Follow these kitchen safety rules:
- Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking. Ensure burners are fully shut off when done cooking.
- Turn pot handles towards 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 burner.
- Have a ‘kid and pet-free zone’ of at least three feet (one meter) around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
To learn more, visit the Fire Prevention Week section of the website. For information on programs or to request a safety presentation contact the High River Fire Department at fireinspections@highriver.ca.
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For more information:
High River Fire Department
403-336-5903