Preventing Cooking Fires the Focus of 2013 Fire Prevention Week

The Provincial Government and fire departments throughout Newfoundland and Labrador will be promoting cooking safety during Fire Prevention Week from October 6 to 12. Fire departments will participate in numerous community events and demonstrations to raise awareness around fire safety and will take the opportunity to educate individuals on the dangers of unsafe cooking practices in particular.

“The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is pleased to recognize Fire Prevention Week throughout the province from October 6 to 12,” said the Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador. “This year, fire departments and others will be spreading the word about the dangers of kitchen fires − most of which result from leaving the stove or oven unattended − and teaching residents how to prevent kitchen fires. I encourage all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to take this opportunity to do a fire safety assessment in their own homes and to also remember that since 2012 working smoke alarms are required in every bedroom of a home or dwelling, and in cottages and cabins as well.”

Throughout Fire Prevention Week, fire departments around the province will perform fire drills in schools, host open houses at fire stations, deliver public information door-to-door, and hold information sessions in malls and shops. Fire Prevention Week is aimed at encouraging residents to make fire safety a priority year-round. Among the safety tips fire departments will be emphasizing:

• Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling, broiling, or boiling food;
• Turn off the stove if leaving the room, even for a short period of time;
• When simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home, and use a cooking timer;
• Use the stove’s back burners whenever possible and keep children and pets at least three feet away from the stove;
• Wear clothing with tight-fitting sleeves when cooking;
• Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels, and anything else that can burn, away from the stovetop; and,
• Clean up food and grease from burners and stovetops regularly.

Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record. More information can be found at www.gov.nl.ca/fes/  or www.fpw.org . 

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Media contact:
Bradley Power
Public Relations Specialist
Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador
709-729-0857, 699-5707
BradleyPower@gov.nl.ca 

2013 10 04                                     2:35 p.m.