BOULDER CITY – The Boulder City Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 100 years — to promote this year’s campaign, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.” The campaign works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take when cooking to keep themselves and those around them safe. Fire Prevention Week runs October 8-14, 2023.
The Boulder City Fire Department encourages all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme. “Cooking fires can grow quickly, so being attentive is so important while cooking,” said Boulder City Deputy Fire Chief Greg Chesser. “I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented. Awareness could save your kitchen, your home – even your life.”
According to NFPA, unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires and deaths. “Year after year, cooking accounts for half (49 percent) of all U.S. home fires,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of outreach and advocacy at NFPA. “These numbers tell us that there is still much work to do when it comes to better educating the public about ways to stay safe when cooking.”
Boulder City Fire Department offers these key safety tips to help reduce the risk of a cooking fire:
- Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
- Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
- Have a “kid- and pet-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
The Boulder City Fire Department is hosting an open house and pancake breakfast on October 14, from 8 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Come to the station (Elm Street) and meet our first responders, check out our life-saving equipment and grab a delicious breakfast!
For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking safety, visit www.fpw.org. For fire safety fun for kids, visit www.sparky.org.
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