How safe are your cooking practices? Many house fires begin as kitchen fires, the theme of this year's Fire Prevention Week from Oct 6. to 12.
Last year, B.C. fire departments responded to 688 cooking fires across the province, causing 77 injuries and one death. Nine of those fires were in Port Coquitlam.
Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services (FES) offers the following safety tips to prevent kitchen fires:
stay in the kitchen while cooking;
stay alert and pay attention;
wear short or close-fitting sleeves;
turn pot handles in;
keep flammable items (e.g. curtains) away from the stove;
make sure your smoke alarm is working - check monthly, change the batteries every six months and replace every 10 years.
Residents are urged to have a working smoke alarm on each floor of their home. Having one reduces the chances of dying in a fire by more than 30 per cent. Alarms older than 10 years old can be recycled through the AlarmRecycle program, available in Port Coquitlam at Biggar Bottle Depot, 2577 Kingsway Ave.
FES annually takes part in Fire Prevention Week by conducting elementary school fire drills, and handing out fire safety information to students. Students are invited to complete the Fire Safety Starts with You pamphlet that is sent home with them, and also enter into a draw for a chance to be Captain of the Day or Fire Chief for a Day.
This year, students from kindergarten to Grade 3 who complete the flyer can enter to win an iPad from the Office of the Fire Commissioner. Entry forms have been provided by FES to local schools. Entries can also be dropped off by Nov. 4 at the No. 1 Fire Hall at 1725 Broadway St., faxed to 604-927-5406 or emailed to [email protected].
For more fire safety and prevention tips, visit portcoquitlam.ca/fire, send an email to [email protected] or call 604-927-5466.
