Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 8-14

Missouri fire departments are teaming up with State Farm and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Cooking Safety Starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.” This year’s campaign, which runs Oct 8-14, works to educate families about simple but important steps they can take to keep themselves and others safe.

“Cooking fires are the leading cause of U.S. home fires and home fire injuries,” said Kelly Pargett, State Farm Corporate Responsibility Analyst. “This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign works to highlight when and where cooking fires happen most often, along with simple ways to minimize those risks.”

Missouri fire departments and State Farm are encouraging all residents to cook with caution. In support of those efforts, State Farm agents across the country recently donated Fire Prevention Week kits to local fire departments, which include home fire safety and prevention activities and information for children and adults.

“State Farm encourages homeowners to make fire prevention an important part of their overall home safety plan,” Pargett said. “Fire Prevention Week reminds that cooking with caution should be at the top of that list. This is also a good time to check your smoke alarms to ensure they are functioning.”

NFPA reminds people of the following cooking safety tips:

• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove to prevent spills and burns.
• Always keep a lid nearby when cooking on the stove. If a small fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
• 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 kids and pets three feet from the stove/oven and where hot foods and liquids are being served.
• Watch what you heat. Set 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.
• Be alert. If you are tired or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove/oven.

For more information about Fire Prevention Week and this year’s theme, visit www.fpw.org.