Fire Prevention Week 2020 is upon us. Although things are quite different at the current time, fire prevention is everyone’s business. The theme this year is “Serve up fire safety in the kitchen.” That may sound a bit simple and out of date but the kitchen is one part of the house that many spend quite a bit of time in and kitchen fires are the #1 cause of fires in the home with the leading cause being unattended cooking according to the NFPA https://www.nfpa.org/ Here are some of the tips they offer to keep the kitchen safe:
• Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove or stovetop.• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove. • If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking. • Keep anything that can catch fire— oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop. If you have a small (grease) cooking fire and decide to fight the fire smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled. • For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. If you have any doubt about fighting a small fire just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire. • Call 9-1-1
