YAKIMA, Wash.-The Yakima Fire Department is participating in National Fire Prevention Week, which runs October 8 through 14.
“Cooking safety starts with YOU” is the theme and hopes to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe according to a YFD press release.
YFD will be providing fire safety tips, reminders and resources throughout the week online and on its social media platforms.
“Year after year, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires by far, accounting for nearly half (49 percent) of all U.S. home fires,” said Yakima Fire Chief Aaron Markham. “A cooking fire can grow quickly. People are injured and homes are damaged by fires that could easily have been prevented.”
Cooking safety tips from the YFD:
Watch what you heat. Never leave cooking food unattended and set a timer to remind you that you are cooking.Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so you don’t bump or spill them. Keep a lid nearby when cooking to smother any grease fires that may start.Keep a kid and pet-free zone of at least three-feet around your stove or any area where hot food or drinks are prepared.
