Fire Prevention Week: safe cooking

Every year, fire departments across the country observe Fire Prevention Week, created to draw attention to fire safety issues. The theme of this yearís Fire Prevention Week, which takes place Oct. 6 through Oct. 12, is ìPrevent Kitchen Fires.îCooking is the leading cause of all residential building fires and injuries, resulting in about 400 deaths, 5,000 injuries and more than $800 million in property damage annually. Statistics from the National Fire Protection Association show that two of every five residential fires start in the kitchen. On average, more than 160,000 cooking fires occur every year in the United States, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.Vernon Champlin, Falcon Fire Protection District fire marshal and division chief, said, ìAs fire prevention week approaches, itís a good time to reflect on how devastating a fire can be and what to do to prevent it.îHere are some tips to stay safe while cooking:

• Unattended cooking was a factor in 34 percent of reported home cooking fires. Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food. Turn off the stove when leaving the room, even for a short period of time. ††
• Check food regularly when simmering, baking or roasting†food. Stay in the home while cooking, and set a timer as a reminder.
• Keep cooking areas clean and clear of items that can easily ignite such as potholders, towels and food packaging.
• Keep children away from cooking areas by enforcing a ìkid-free zoneî of three feet around the stove.
• For a fire in the microwave, turn off the appliance immediately and keep the door closed.†Never open the door until the fire is completely out. If in doubt, get out of the house and call the fire department.
• Always keep an oven mitt and a lid nearby. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan while wearing the oven mitt. Turn off the burner. Do not move the pan. To keep the fire from restarting, do not remove the lid until it is completely cool. Never pour water on a grease fire.†If the fire does not go out, get out of the home and call the fire department.
• If an oven fire starts, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. If the fire does not go out, get out of the home and call the fire department.

Champlin also encourages everyone to practice fire safety throughout the home. ìFrequently, fire deaths occur in places where people sleep, and are often associated with unattended cooking, candles and smoking,î he said. ìPractice your exit plan and have a meeting place outside. Install smoke detectors on all floors and outside of sleeping areas.†And donít forget to change your (smoke detector) batteries when you change your clocks. By knowing where and how fires occur, you can take action to keep your family safe.†Remember, ëFire Is Everyoneís Fight.íî