Fire Prevention Month

10/12/2023 (Permalink)

Cooking safety starts with you! Fire prevention month 2023 tips.

October is Fire Prevention month! The National Fire Prevention Association slogan for 2023 is "Cooking Safety Starts with YOU!" 

Cold weather brings families together for warm meals shared indoors. While this is a great opportunity for sharing homecooked meals and entertaining family, it's also a great reminder that cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires and home injuries.  Here is a list of safety tips from the NFPA to help keep you and your family safe!  

Cook with Caution

• Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove or stovetop.

• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.

• If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.

• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop. If you have a small (grease) cooking fire and decide to fight the fire...

• On the stovetop, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.

• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. If you have any doubt about fighting a small fire…

• Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.

• Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number from outside the home

We hope these helpful tips and reminders will help you avoid a kitchen accident. However, in the event a cooking accident happens to you, SERVPRO of The Upper Peninsula is here to help! Call us at (906) 204-2450 and we would be happy to assist you in your time of need.