Fire Safety Fest 2023: Cooking Safety Starts with YOU!

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Press Release

The North Charleston Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week (FPW) for more than 100 years — to promote this year's FPW campaign, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire preventionTM.” The campaign works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take when cooking to keep themselves and those around them safe.

According to NFPA, 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. “Year after year, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires by far, accounting for half (49 percent) of all U.S. home fires,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of outreach and advocacy at NFPA. “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.”

North Charleston Fire Department offers these key safety tips to help reduce the risk of a cooking fire.

  1. Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you thatyou are cooking.
  2. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a smallgrease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
  3. Have a “kid- and pet-free zone” of at least 3 feet (1 meter) around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

In celebration of Fire Prevention Week 2023, North Charleston Fire Department will be hosting an event, “Fire Safety Fest”, on Saturday, October 14th from 10 am to 2 pm at the North Charleston Fire Museum (4975 Centre Point Dr, North Charleston, SC 29418). We are inviting our community to enjoy apparatus displays from multiple agencies, a children's section, educational booths, live demonstrations, FREE admission to the fire museum, food trucks, and great entertainment! Visit the event link for more information: https://fb.me/e/1tWmPmBS6