Fire department to host prevention week open house

submitted by Manchester Township Fire Department

The Manchester Township Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week™ (FPW) for more than 100 years — to promote this year’s FPW campaign, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention™.” The campaign 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 Manchester Township Fire Department encourages all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, “Cooking safety start with YOU.” A cooking fire can grow quickly. Many homes have been damaged and people have been injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.

The Manchester Fire Department offers these key safety tips to help reduce the risk of a cooking fire.

1. Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
2. 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.
3. Have a “kid- and pet-free zone” of at least 3 feet (1 meter) around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

To celebrate Fire Prevention Week, the Manchester Township Fire Department will host an open house on Sunday, October 15, from 1 to 3pm to promote “Cooking safety starts with YOU.” Through educational, family-oriented activities, residents can learn more about cooking safety. There will also be equipment displays and kids young and old will be able to spray a working fire hose.

The Manchester Township Fire Department is located at 275 South Macomb St. For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking safety, visit www.fpw.org. For fire safety fun for kids, visit sparky.org

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.