The Town of Pelham Fire Department is once again raising awareness about fire safety during the annual Fire Prevention Week. The awareness campaign, which runs from October 6th to 12th, is centred on the theme of preventing kitchen fires.
“The best way to prevent kitchen fires is to never leave cooking unattended,” said Pelham Fire Chief Bob Lymburner.
Statistics show that unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires and injuries in the province. Most residents are not aware that stepping out of the kitchen for even a few minutes can cause a serious fire to start.
The Pelham Fire Department is eager to help educate residents and urges them to keep our community safe by taking responsibility to prevent fires from starting in the first place. Some important safety steps to prevent kitchen fires include:
• Pay attention when cooking - especially if you are using oil or high temperatures.
• If you must leave the room for any reason, turn off the stove.
• Wear tight-fitting or rolled up sleeves when using the stove. Loose, dangling clothing can easily catch fire.
• Keep a proper fitting lid near the stove. If a pot catches fire, slide the lid over the pot and turn off the stove.
• Never attempt to move a burning pot.
• Keep a close eye on anyone in your household who is drinking and attempts to cook.
In light of Fire Prevention Week, the Pelham Fire Department is organizing a number of events to help raise public awareness about the importance of preventing kitchen fires. The events include: home visits by fire trucks, a special appearance by Sparky the Fire Dog at the Farmer’s Market on October 10th, and a fun-filled Friday evening on October 11th at the Fonthill Library including a demonstration by the award-winning extrication team, a demonstration of a stove top fire, games with prizes, and more. Pelham Fire Station #3 in North Pelham is also hosting an open house with their famous chili cook-off on October 15th.
New for this Fire Prevention Week is a story writing contest. Stories about how to prevent kitchen fires can be submitted for consideration to the Pelham Fire Department before October 12th by calling (905) 892-2607 ext. 202 or e-mailing sholditch@pelham.ca.
For additional information, please contact:
Saskia Holditch
Pelham Fire Prevention Officer
(905) 892-2607 ext. 202
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