The Watonga Fire Department teamed up with State Farm and the National Fire Protection Association to promote this year’s Fire Prevention campaign, “Cooking Safety Starts with YOU. ” This year’s campaign educated 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. 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,” said Lorraine Carli, VP of Outreach and Advocacy.
The Watonga Fire Department and local State Farm agent Mary Lee Jones encourage all residents to cook with caution. In support of those efforts, Jones and her staff recently donated a Fire Prevention Week kit to the fire department, which includes 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. Cooking with caution should be at the top of the list,” said Jones. “This also is a good time to check your smoke alarms .”
The Watonga Fire Department shared 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 cooking. 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 3 feet from the stove/oven and hot foods and liquids . 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.