With Fire Prevention Week just around the corner, the Owen Sound Fire and Emergency Services is urging City of Owen Sound residents to take simple steps to prevent kitchen fires in their home. This year’s theme of Fire Prevention Week, which runs from October 4-10, is “Serve Up FireSafety in the Kitchen!™”

The theme is timely as cooking fires continue to be the leading cause of home fires in Ontario and focuses on the prevention of cooking fires and staying fire-safe in the kitchen.

"Often when we are called to a fire that started in the kitchen, residents tell us they only left the kitchen for a few minutes. Unfortunately, that's all it takes for a dangerous fire to start. Help keep our community safe by preventing fires from starting in the first place," says Fire Chief Doug Barfoot.

Simple steps to serve up fire safety in the kitchen include:

• Always stay in the kitchen when cooking and turn off the stove if you must leave the kitchen.
• Keep a proper fitting lid near the stove. If a pot of oil catches fire, slide the lid over the pot and turn off the stove. Do not move the pot. Never throw water on a burning pot.
• Keep anything that burns - plastic utensils, dishcloths, paper towels - a safe distance from the stove.
• Cook responsibly. To prevent cooking fires, you must be alert. You will not be alert if you have consumed alcohol or drugs.
• Wear tight-fitting or rolled up sleeves when using the stove. Loose, dangling clothing can easily catch fire.
• Keep young kids one metre away from the stove. Turn pot handles away from the stove’s edge so they can’t be easily knocked off.

For more information, please the contact Duty Officer at 519-376-4440 ext. 2243 or email to [email protected].

source: media release, Owen Sound Fire and Emergency Services