Parkland County Fire Services is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) to promote the 2023 Fire Prevention Week 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.  

Did you know?
Cooking is the leading cause of fire incidents and injuries in Canada. 

“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.”

Parkland County Fire Services encourages all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, “Cooking safety starts with YOU,” said the Fire Prevention Office. “A cooking fire can grow quickly. I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”

Parkland County Fire Services and the Fire Prevention Office 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, visit http://www.nfpa.org/fpw

Does your family have a home safety plan?

 Smoke Alarms and Testing (Smoke Alarm Saturdays)

Make the first Saturday of each month “Smoke Alarm Saturday”! A working smoke alarm will clue you in that there is a fire and you need to escape. Fire moves fast. You and your family could have only minutes to get out safely once the smoke alarm sounds.

  • Smoke alarms should be installed in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement

  • Test all of your smoke alarms by pushing the test button. If it makes a loud beep, beep, beep sound, you know it’s working. If there is no sound or the sound is low, it’s time to replace the battery. 

    Hear a Chirp, Make a Change! A chirping alarm needs attention. Replace the batteries or the entire alarm if it is older than 10 years old. If you don’t remember how old it is, replace it.

  • Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the alarm and what to do when it sounds.

 Develop a home fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year!

Having a home fire escape plan will make sure everyone knows what to do when the smoke alarm sounds so they can get out safely

  • Draw a map of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors.
  • Children, older adults, and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out. Make sure they are part of the plan.
  • Make sure all escape routes are clear and that doors and windows open easily.
  •  Pick an outside meeting place (something permanent like a neighbor’s house, a light post, mailbox, or stop sign) that is a safe distance in front of your home where everyone can meet.
  • Everyone in the home should know the fire department’s emergency number and how to call once they are safely outside.
  • Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice day and night time home fire drills. Share your home escape plans with overnight guests.

REMEMBER:

When You Hear a Beep, Get On Your Feet! Get out and stay out. Call 9-1-1 from your outside meeting place.