HONOLULU (Oct. 4, 2013) -- It's time for Fire Prevention Week, and from Oct. 6-12, the Federal Fire Department is joining forces with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to remind local residents to "Prevent Kitchen Fires."
During this year's fire safety campaign, firefighters and safety advocates will be spreading the word about the dangers of kitchen fires -- most of which result from unattended cooking -- and teaching local residents how to prevent kitchen fires.
According to the latest NFPA research, cooking is the leading cause of home fires. In two out of every five home fires, the fire begins in the kitchen more than any other place in the home.
Cooking fires are also the leading cause of home fire-related injuries.
For the majority of fires that have started in the kitchen, the residents indicate that they only left the kitchen for a few minutes. Sadly, that is all it takes for a dangerous fire to start.
The Federal Fire Department's goal during Fire Prevention Week is to reach individuals in the community before they are involved in a kitchen fire in their home.
Prevention Tips
-Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, broiling or boiling food.
-If you must leave the room, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
-When you are simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly. Stay in the home, and use a-timer to remind you when the food is done.
-If you have young children, use the stove's back burners, whenever possible.
-Keep children and pets at least 3 feet away from the stove.
-When you cook, wear clothing with tight-fitting sleeves.
-Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels and anything else that can burn away from your stovetop.
-Keep a lid nearby when you are cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and then turn off the stovetop.
-Clean up food and grease from burners and stovetops.
-If you have a cooking fire, get out, close the doors behind you and call 9-1-1.
Federal Fire Department Presentations
The Federal Fire Department will be at the following locations during Fire Prevention Week, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.:
•Oct. 7, Pearl Harbor Navy Exchange.
•Oct. 8, Schofield Barracks Main Exchange.
•Oct. 9, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Mokapu Mall.
•Oct. 10, Hickam Base Exchange.
The Federal Fire Department will also be at National Night Out at the Aliamanu Military Reservation Community Center, Building 1788, from 4-7 p.m.
Fire Station Tours
The Federal Fire Department will be hosting fire station tours at various military bases on Oahu. The station tours will be held, daily, 9-11 a.m., Oct. 7-11, at these locations:
•Fire Station 4, Ford Island;
•Fire Station 8, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay;
•Fire Station 10, Helemano Military Reservation;
•Fire Station 14, Wheeler Army Airfield; and
•Fire Station 15, Schofield Barracks.
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