Fire Prevention Week
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Posted: Thursday, September 26, 2013 2:46 PM
State Fire Marshal Encourages West Virginians
To Take part in Fire Prevention Week
October 6-12, 2013
Preventing fires in your home by making sure you take safety precautions when cooking, heating, smoking, using candles and other open-flame items, and maintaining appliances are the very best things you can do to protect your family from fire.
"More fires start in the kitchen than in any other part of the home," says Acting State Fire Marshal Anthony Carrico. "It's important to help teach people how to keep cooking fires from starting in the first place. You need to stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove."
This is why the State Fire Marshal's Office is teaming up with NFPA during the October 6-12, 2013, to let West Virginians know: "It's Fire Prevention Week. Prevent Kitchen Fires!" This year's campaign focuses on the many ways to help protect your family from kitchen fires.
The West Virginia State Fire Marshal's Office and NFPA offer the following tips for protecting your home and family from kitchen fires:
- Be on the alert! If you're sleepy, do not use the stove or stovetop.
- Stay in the kitchen while you are cooking any type of food.
- If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or broiling food, check it regularly. Do not leave your home while food is cooking.
- Use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
How to be prepared:
- MAKE a home escape plan. Draw a map of your home showing all doors and windows. Discuss the plan with everyone in your home.
- Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily.
- Have an outside meeting place (like a tree, light pole or mailbox) a safe distance from the home where everyone should meet.
- Practice your home fire drill at night and during the day with everyone in your home, twice a year.
- Practice using different ways out.
- Install smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home (including the basement).
- Test smoke alarms at least monthly and replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old, or sooner if they do not respond when tested.
- If the smoke alarm sounds, get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people or pets.
- Call the fire department from outside your home.
If you have a fire:
- Keep a lid nearby when you are cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
- For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door to the oven closed./li>
- If a fire is too much, get out and stay out! Close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
- Call 9-1-1 after you leave your home.
To learn more about "Fire Prevention Week-Prevent Kitchen Fires!", visit NFPA's Web site at www. firepreventionweek.org.