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Sunapee Fire Department: Fire Prevention Week Reminder!

Posted on: October 11, 2023 - 1:23pm

As Fire Prevention Week approaches, Sunapee Fire Department reminds residents:

“Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.”

October 2023 — The Sunapee Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention WeekTM (FPW)  for more than 100 years — to promote this year’s FPW 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.”

The Sunapee Fire Department encourages all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, “Cooking safety start with YOU,” said Fire Chief John Galloway. “A cooking fire can grow quickly. I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”

Sunapee 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.

The Sunapee Fire Department will be giving presentations in the local schools in support of this year’s FPW campaign. If you have kids in grades K through 5, ask them about what they’ve learned and reinforce the bullet points above.

For more general information and tips about fire prevention visit https://www.town.sunapee.nh.us/fire-department-emergency-medical-service.... For fire safety fun for kids, visit sparky.org.