Oct. 8 to 14 marks Fire Prevention Week in B.C. and cooking safety takes precedence in this year's campaign — "Cooking safety starts with You. Pay attention to fire prevention."
With cooking deemed the top cause of house fires and home-fire injuries, according to a news release, Coquitlam Fire/Rescue is reminding all residents about the importance of cooking safety.
Seconds can make a huge difference in a fire, said deputy fire chief Shawn Davidson, noting it's important all household members know how to cook safely and what to do if there is a kitchen fire.
Davidson encourages local residents to stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling or broiling, and to turn off the stove if you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time.
Other important cooking safety checklist provided by the city:
- If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking
- Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from the stove top
- Have a "kid-free zone" of at least one metre around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried. Use the stovetop backburners whenever possible
- Ensure you have a kitchen fire extinguisher and know how to use it.
- Have a home fire escape plan and practice what to do in case of a fire
- Open microwaved containers slowly as hot steam can cause burns
- If you do have a cooking fire, get out of the home immediately closing the door behind you to help contain the fire, and call 911
- (It is to be noted that water should never be added to a grease fire. Instead, it is advised to put a tight-fitting lid on the pot/pan, turn off the heat, and call 911.
- For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed
Smoke alarms are also strongly recommended for home fire safety as they provide the first indication of a potential fire.
Coquitlam urges residents to have functioning smoke alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas.
As per the law in B.C., landlords are also required to ensure their rental properties have working alarms.
Prevention is better than cure and smoke alarms provide early detection:
- Have a working smoke alarm on each floor.
- Replace batteries each spring and fall, when the clocks change.
- Test smoke alarms monthly and keeping them free of dust and uncovered.
- Replace smoke alarms at least once every 10 years.
For more information, you can visit the seasonal safety page of the City of Coquitlam's website.
