Fire Department reminds residents to 'prevent kitchen fires'

  • Published
  • By Hanscom Fire Department
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The Fire Department recognized Fire Prevention Week Oct. 6 through 12 on base by reminding residents to "Prevent Kitchen Fires."

During this year's fire safety campaign, the Hanscom Fire Department educated people on the dangers of kitchen fires, most of which result from unattended cooking. In addition, firefighters taught residents how to prevent kitchen fires from starting in the first place.

According to the most recent National Fire Protection Association research, cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Two of every five home fires begin in the kitchen, more than any other place in the home. Cooking fires are also the leading cause of home fire-related injuries.

"Often when called to a fire that started in the kitchen, the residents say they only left the kitchen for a few minutes," said Robert J. Kenyon, 66th Air Base Group Civil Engineering captain. "Sadly, that's all it takes for a dangerous fire to start. Fire Prevention Week helps us educate the community before they suffer a damaging lesson."

Among the safety tips that firefighters and safety advocates emphasize:

· Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, broiling or boiling food.
· If you must leave the room, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
· When you are simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home and use a timer As a reminder, if you have young children, use the stove's back burners whenever possible. Keep children and pets at least three feet? away from the stove.
· When you cook, wear clothing with tight-fitting sleeves.
· Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels and anything else that can burn away from your stovetop.
· Clean up food and grease from burners and stovetops.

Fire Prevention Week is actively supported by fire departments across the country. Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record.

Throughout the week the Fire Department also visited the Child Development Center, Youth Center, Middle School and Primary School to teach children how to use a fire extinguisher.

To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs at Hanscom, contact the Fire Department at 781-225-5601 or email robert.kenyon@hanscom.af.mil.

For additional information about preventing kitchen fires, visit www.firepreventionweek.org.