The National Fire Protection Association and State Farm Agent Mary Lee Jones are teaming up with the Watonga Fire Department to support Fire Prevention Week, an annual public awareness campaign that promotes home fire safety. State Farm Agents are delivering Fire Prevention Week toolkits to more than 100 fire departments across Oklahoma, including Watonga. Each toolkit includes a host of resources for promoting Fire Prevention Week Oct. 4-10, including brochures, magnets, posters and more. The fire department will be sharing these resources at schools and other community events this fall in support of the campaign.
This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen” focuses on cooking fire safety. Home cooking fires represent the leading cause of all fires with nearly half – 49 percent – happening in the kitchen. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of these fires.
“The good news is that the majority of kitchen fires are highly preventable,” said Jones. “These great kits will help our fire departments spread the news to always stay focused when you’re in the kitchen and never leave the kitchen unattended.”
Key messages around this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign will include the following: Keep a close eye on what you’re cooking; never leave cooking unattended; Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — at least three feet away from your stovetop; Be on alert. If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or stovetop.
For more information about Fire Prevention Week and this year’s theme, “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen,” visit fpw.org.
Connie Burcham can be reached at Editor@WatongaRepublican.com