Fire Prevention Week

Fire engine parked with fire fighters around

Important safety information

Oct. 4, 2023

College football. Cooling temperatures and changing leaves. All signs of fall. But there’s another aspect this time of year that deserves your attention—fire prevention safety.

Entering its 101st year, Fire Prevention Week™ is the oldest public health observance on record in the U.S., according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a global nonprofit organization. NFPA launched National Fire Prevention Week in 1922 to educate people about the leading risks for home fires and ways they can protect themselves.

With a theme this year focused on cooking safety, Oct. 8 through 14 commemorates Fire Prevention Week™.

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires, with 49 percent involving cooking equipment, according to NFPA. Additionally, NFPA data shows that cooking is the only major cause of fire that resulted in more fires and fire deaths in 2014-2018 than in 1980-1984.

“These numbers tell us that more public awareness is needed around when and where cooking hazards exist, along with ways to prevent them,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of outreach and advocacy. To help reduce the risk of fire when cooking, the NFPA recommends:

Clearing the cooking area of anything that can burn—towels, oven mitts, food packaging.

Turning pot handles toward the back of the stove.

Create a “kid and pet free zone” of at least three feet around the cooking area and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

For general fire prevention:

Check your heating source. Whether it is a fireplace, propane tank, wood stove, furnace or electric heat, have them checked before using them.
Keep the heating source clear of clutter. Do not store boxes, clothes, papers, and other fuels or items near the heating source.
Secure the kitchen from pets, especially when no one is home, as they often can turn on burners.

Safety should always be top of mind

“Fire safety awareness is vital to helping save lives,” said Kate Houchard, CMRP, area manager for Enbridge in the Great Lakes Region.

“We understand how important Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac is to the region, which includes providing the crude oil essential to manufacture the tools and equipment to promote fire safety.”

Houchard shared that product from Line 5 helps in the manufacture of smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire alarms, and fire extinguishers. She joins the NFPA in encouraging people to test the equipment monthly, changing batteries as warranted, and placing a fire extinguisher on each floor of the house.

“We all need to stay vigilant and take safety seriously, whether it’s in the home or at work,” said Houchard.

Find out additional information on Fire Prevention Week™. Additional resources for children, caregivers and educators may be found at www.sparky.org and www.sparkyschoolhouse.org.