Fire Prevention Week

Centre Hastings Fire Department is reminding families to stay in the kitchen when they cook and to avoid distractions that remove their focus from what’s on the stove. This year’s Fire Prevention Week runs from October 8 to 14 and the theme is “Cooking safety starts with YOU! Pay attention to fire prevention.”

Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires, home fire injuries and related deaths, with nearly half (49 percent) of all home fires involving cooking equipment. Reduce your risk of having a cooking fire with these simple steps for kitchen safety:

Always keep a close eye on what you’re cooking. For foods with longer cook times, such as those that are simmering or baking, set a timer to help monitor them carefully.

Clear the cooking area of combustible items. Keep anything that can burn, such as dish towels, oven mitts, food packaging, and paper towels away from the stove.

Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.

Create a “kid and pet free zone” in your kitchen. Leave at least three feet (one meter) around the cooking area and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.