GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — The Green Bay Metro Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) to promote this year’s Fire Protection Week (FPW) campaign, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.”
The campaign, which runs October 8-14, 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%) 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 Green Bay Metro Fire Department encourages all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, “Cooking safety starts with YOU,” said Lieutenant Shauna Walesh. “A cooking fire can grow quickly. We have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.” In 2022, Green Bay Metro Fire Department responded to 83 cooking related fires.
Green Bay Metro Fire Department offers these key safety tips to help reduce the risk of a cooking fire.
- Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
- 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.
- Have a “kid- and pet-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
The Green Bay Metro Fire Department is hosting a series of events in support of this year’s FPW campaign, including:
- 2023 Fire Safety Poster Contest; this offering is open to 1st – 5th grade students. Posters are to be related to fire safety topics. A 1st place winner will be picked for each grade, with the prize being a ride to school in a fire truck. When a student is picked as the winner, the student’s teacher may also be eligible for a ride to school in a fire truck. Click here for more information.
- Tour a Green Bay Metro Fire Station: this is an educational opportunity for all individuals. Learn about fire safety, check out various apparatus/equipment, and meet the firefighters in your neighborhood. Click here to sign up.
- Set Up a Home Fire Safety Visit: Not sure if the smoke alarms/carbon monoxide detectors in your home are good? Need assistance changing batteries? Request a home safety visit by clicking here.
For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking safety, visit www.fpw.org. For fire safety fun for kids, visit sparky.org.
