Westminster, MD, Thursday, October 5,  2023 -  As Fire Prevention Week approaches, Carroll County Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention WeekTM (FPW) for more than 100 years — to promote this year’s FPW campaign, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention™.” 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.”

Carroll County encourages all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, “Cooking safety starts with YOU,” said Michael Robinson, Director and Chief of the Carroll County Department of Fire and EMS. “A cooking fire can grow quickly. I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”

These key safety tips 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 that you are cooking.
  2. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease 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.

Local fire departments are hosting a series of events in support of this year’s FPW campaign. During the month of October, all county elementary schools will be visited by their respective fire stations.  Also, many of our volunteer fire companies will be hosting open houses during the month of October.  Please go to www.ccvesa.org  for specific information. 

For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking safety, visit www.fpw.org. For fire safety fun for kids, visit www.sparky.org.