By City of Red Deer

unattended cooking leads to many house fires

Red Deer Emergency Services shares kitchen safety tips for Fire Prevention Week

Oct 5, 2020 | 2:49 PM

October 4 – 10 is Fire Prevention Week, and Red Deer Emergency Services want to remind you to keep fire safety in mind when things are heating up in the kitchen.

Unattended cooking continues to be a leading cause of home fires in Red Deer, and a small fire can get out of control very quickly. On average, 20 per cent of all destructive residential fires start in the kitchen.

Here are a few tips that can help prevent fires in your kitchen and keep your family and home safe:

• Watch what you heat: Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. Turn off the burner if you leave the kitchen for any reason.
• Don’t add fuel to the fire: In case of a grease fire, never move the pot or pan. Simply slide a tight-fitting lid over the pot or pan to smother the flames, and then turn off the heat. Never throw water or flour on a grease fire.
• Declutter your cooktop: Keep cooking areas clear of combustibles such as potholders, dish towels, and food packaging can lower reduce the risk of fire.
• Smoke Alarms save Lives: Working smoke alarms save lives. Smoke alarms should be installed and maintained on every level of your home.

RDES also wants to remind you during Fire Prevention Week to always properly dispose of smoking materials, as many fires in Red Deer are caused by improperly disposed of cigarette butts. Whenever you smoke, use deep, sturdy ashtrays. If ashtrays are not available, use a metal can or pail. Never empty smoking material directly into a trashcan, and never throw out cigarettes into vegetation, potted plants or landscaping, as they can easily catch fire.

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For further fire safety tips, check out the Home Safety Booklet available at reddeer.ca.