Fire alarm, cooking safety urged for Fire Prevention Week

Thursday, September 30, 2021
State Farm agent Brad Tucker (left), Greencastle Fire Chief John Burgess and State Farm producer Lani Guerrettaz hold a banner for Fire Prevention Week.
Banner Graphic/BRAND SELVIA

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm Insurance agent Brad Tucker have teamed up with the Greencastle Fire Department to support Fire Prevention Week, an annual public awareness campaign that promotes critical home fire safety messages.

The campaign, which this year runs from Oct. 4-11, works to educate the public about actions people can take to keep themselves and those around them safe. The NFPA has been its official sponsor for more than 90 years.

This year’s theme is “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety.” According to the NFPA, three out of five fire deaths occur in homes without any smoke alarms or which have smoke alarms which are not working.

“We recommend that you have at least one smoke alarm on every level of the home, possibly more,” Greencastle Fire Asst. Chief Rob Frank said. “They should be placed outside of sleeping areas. This way they will alert people if there is a fire in the middle of the night.”

Homeowners should have an escape plan in the event of a fire alarm and know two safe ways out of the home. There should also be a designated place where everyone can meet and be accounted for.

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and related injuries in the United States, according to the NFPA. Forty-four percent of reported home fires start in the kitchen, while 66 percent of home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.

“A cooking fire can grow quickly,” Tucker said. “I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”

Kits donated to the fire department contain educational prevention materials about kitchen fires for homeowners and children.

Safety tips to prevent cooking fires:

• Never leave cooking food unattended. Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling. If you have to leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.

• If you are simmering, baking, roasting or broiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.

• Be alert when cooking. You will not be alert if you are sleepy, have taken medicine or drugs or consumed alcohol that makes you drowsy.

• Always keep an oven mitt and pan lid nearby when you are cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan to smother the flame. Turn off the burner and leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.

• Have a “kid-free” zone of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drinks are prepared or carried.

For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking fire prevention, visit www.fpw.org.

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