National Fire Prevention Week is October 8th-14th and the RDEK is encouraging residents to review the safety measures they take while preparing food.
“The theme of this year’s National Fire Prevention Week is ‘Cooking Safety Starts with You. Pay Attention to Fire Prevention™,’” says Elk Valley & South Country Fire Chief Michael Hockley. “Staying in the kitchen, using a timer, and avoiding distractions that remove your focus from what’s on the stove are all important things to keep in mind while preparing food.”
Cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries and are largely preventable.
“Things like never leaving a stovetop unattended, turning your pot handles away from the front of the stove, and keeping your cooking appliances clean can all sound pretty simple, but simple mistakes can lead to dangerous situations,” says Columbia Valley Rural Fire and Rescue Service Chief Drew Sinclair. “It’s also important to create a ‘kid and pet free zone’ of at least 3 feet (one meter) around your cooking area and anywhere you handle hot food.”
In addition to learning about cooking safety, residents are encouraged to practice their fire escape plan and test to make sure all smoke detectors are working.
For further fire prevention tips, or to learn how you can become a part of the RDEK’s Rural Fire and Rescue Service, contact your local fire department. The annual firefighter recruitment drive is on now. Learn more at www.rdek.bc.ca.
