Fire Prevention Week is October 8 – 14, 2023

The Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company and the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®), the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week™ for more than 100 years, are promoting this year's campaign, "Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention™.”

According to the 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 percent) 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.”

A cooking fire can grow quickly. Here are some key safety tips to help reduce the risk of a cooking fire.

• Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
• 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.
• 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.

For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking safety, visit www.fpw.org. For fire safety fun for kids, visit sparky.org.

This year Fire Prevention Week is October 8 – 14, 2023. It is observed every year during the week of October 9 in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which started October 8, 1871. According to the NFPA, it is the longest-running public health observance in the country.