Fort Atkinson Interim Fire Chief Mike Lawrence, according to a news release, has announced that his department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association to promote this year’s National Fire Protection Week campaign.
National Fire Protection Week will be recognized between Sunday, Oct. 8 and Saturday, Oct. 14.
This year’s campaign focuses on cooking safety, according to the release.
The campaign is designed to education members of the public about “simple, but important actions” each can take to keep cooking activities safe for themselves and the people around them, the release noted.
According to National Fire Protection Association, the release stated, “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.”
Lorraine Carli, vice president of outreach and advocacy the the fire protection association, noted within the release that 49% of all home fires in the United States are caused by cooking-related accidents.
“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,” Carli was quoted as saying in the release.
Within the release, the Fort Atkinson Fire Department stated that it encourages all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme.
“A cooking fire can grow quickly. I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented,” Lawrence was quoted as saying in the release.
The following “key safety tips” to reduce the risk of cooking-related fires are offered by the department:
• 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 three feet around the stove or grill, and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
Additionally, the release announced that the Fort Atkinson Fire Department, 128 Milwaukee Ave. W., will hold an Open House Saturday, on Oct. 14, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Participants will find brats, hotdogs, raffles, stations tours, and gear and tool and an extrication demonstration beginning at 12:30 p.m.
For more information about the Fort Atkinson Fire Department, call 920-397-9908. For additional information about National Fire Prevention Week and fire prevention in general, visit the following websites: fpw.org and sparky.org. For more information about smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, visit the city of Fort Atkinson website: www.fortatkinsonwi.gov/fire.
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