Fire Prevention Week: Serve Up Safety

Thursday, October 01, 2020 - 11:45 AM
Serve Up Fire Safety In The Kitchen; Fire Prevention Week 2020

It’s time for Fire Prevention Week, and from October 4-10, 2020 the St. John’s Regional Fire Department (SJRFD) is joining forces with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to remind local residents “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!”. This message focuses on fire safety while cooking and comes in response to home cooking fires representing the leading cause of home fires. With nearly half (49 percent) of all home fires involving cooking equipment; unattended cooking is the leading cause of these fires.

Captain Gary Power states that “these messages are very important, particularly because cooking continues to be a major contributor to the home fire problem. The good news is that the vast majority of these fires are highly preventable. This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign works to better educate the public about where potential cooking hazards exist and basic but critical ways to prevent them.”

“As the public may continue to avoid restaurants for some time and opt instead to do more cooking and entertaining at home, the potential for home cooking fires will likely increase as well.”

Key messages around this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Serve Up Fire Safety in the
Kitchen” will include the following:

  • Keep a close eye on what you’re cooking; never leave cooking unattended
  • Keep anything that can catch fire – oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains – at least three feet away from your stovetop.
  • Be on alert. If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or stovetop.

If the alarm sounds:

  • If the smoke alarm sounds, GET OUT AND STAY OUT and have a family meeting place. Never go back inside for people or pets.
  • If you have to escape through smoke, GET LOW AND GO under the smoke to your way out.
  • CALL the fire department from outside your home.

Fire Prevention Week is actively supported by Fire Departments across the Country and is one of the longest running public health and safety events on record.

In recognition of Fire Prevention Week, being held from October 4-10, 2020, the St. John’s Regional Fire Department will be having many virtual events on our Facebook Page

Fire Prevention Week Schedule of Events
Monday – Kitchen Fire Safety Demonstration with Inspector Cara Pardy
Tuesday – Smoke alarm Safety information with Inspector Karen Thistle
Wednesday – Meet our Fire Fighters Matt Efford and Chris Brenton at Kenmount Fire Station for a Demonstration
Thursday – Emergency Evacuation Planning
Friday – Virtual Tour of Central Fire Station with Inspector Cara Pardy and Fire Fighter Jay Cole

Fire Chief for a Day
Children between the ages of seven and twelve years of age (Grades 4,5 & 6) are eligible to enter the “Fire Prevention Week Poster Contest.” To enter, children must create an 8 ½ x 11 poster, using the theme “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!”

For more information on Fire Prevention Week visit nfpa.org/fpw