Mooresville Fire Receives Grant Aimed At Educating Young Chefs

MOORESVILLE, NC — Mooresville Fire-Rescue has received a $1,000 grant to help educate tweens — specifically those in the 6th and 7th grade — about lurking dangers as they learn their way around in the kitchen.

About 40 percent of fires in Mooresville are related to cooking fires and unattended cooking, higher than the national average of 35 percent, according to fire officials. According to the Jaycee Burn Center at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, french fries cooked on the stove and Ramen Noodles heated in microwaves account for the highest frequency of burn injuries, Mooresville Fire-Rescue said.

“This project is focused on providing education and skills learning for safe cooking habits to sixth and seventh grade students,” said Assistant Fire Marshal TJ Patton, who developed the concept for the “Tween Chefs Burn Prevention” grant application. “This is the age where many students are beginning to be home alone for longer periods of time, such as after school and they may be using stoves, ovens, and microwaves without direct adult supervision.”

The $1,000 grant awarded to Mooresville Fire-Rescue by the North Carolina Firefighters’ Burned Children Fund was one of five awarded this year, and will be used to buy educational materials for programs at Mooresville Middle School, Langtree Charter Academy, and Pine Lake Preparatory, the fire department said.

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