Cooking Safety Starts With You. Pay Attention to Fire Prevention™

The Hickory Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire preventionTM.”  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 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.” 

As a reminder, the Hickory Fire Department encourages residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, “Cooking safety start with YOU.” Hickory Fire Chief Matt Hutchinson said, “A cooking fire can grow quickly. Over the years, our department has responded to many cooking related fires that could easily have been prevented. As a result, we are excited to promote this safety campaign and to remind the public of measures they can take to make their homes safer.” 

Hickory Fire Department offers these key safety tips to help reduce the risk of a cooking fire.
1.    Watch what you heat. 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 3 feet (1 meter) around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

To learn more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities, contact the Hickory Fire Department at 828-323-7521. For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and home safety, visit www.fpw.org and sparky.org.