GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- October is Fire Prevention Month, and to promote fire safety, the Grissom Fire Department is turning up the heat to inform unit members of the dangers fire presents both at work and at home.
Les McConnell, Grissom Fire Department's assistant chief of fire prevention and communications, took fire a fire prevention show on the road to the command post and gave members there the opportunity to use a fire extinguisher to fight a fire in a controlled environment.
Available controllers took turns extinguishing a fire under McConnell's safe supervision, who said the theme for Fire Prevention Month 2013 is increasing the knowledge and danger of kitchen fires.
Kitchens are the leading area of origin for home fires and most kitchen fires are caused by cooking.
There are roughly 3,000 reported kitchen fires per day in the United States.
Fire safety officials offer the following tips for safe cooking:
- Be alert. Those who are sleepy or have consumed alcohol shoulde not use a stove or stovetop.
-Keep an eye on what cookers by staying in a kitchen while frying, grilling or broiling food.
- Turn off the stove when leaving the kitchen for even a short period of time.
- If simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking and use a timer.
- Keep anything that can catch fire such as oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains away from stovetops.
- Have a "kid-free zone" of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
- Homeowners should ensure that smoke detectors are functioning, have fire evacuation plans in place and ensure that all residents are familiar with the plans.