Nationwide, fire service celebrates Fire Prevention Week Oct. 8- 14. Northville City Fire Dept. (NCFD) firefighters will be available to the public to teach fire safety, answer questions, and show visitors the different vehicles and equipment that firefighters use at the Open House at Fire Station #1, 215 W. Main, Northville, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 7, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14 at Fire Station #2, at 201 S. Main in Plymouth.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than a century. The 2023 campaign theme is “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.
According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires and deaths.
“Year after year, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires by far, accounting for nearly half of all U.S. home fires,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of outreach and advocacy at NFPA. “A cooking fire can grow quickly. I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”
The Northville City Fire Department offers these key safety tips to help reduce the risk of a cooking fire.
1. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
2. 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.
3. Have a “kid- and pet-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
If you have any questions about Fire Safety Week, contact the NCFD at 248-449-9919. For general information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking safety, visit www.fpw.org. For fire safety fun for kids, visit sparky.org.