It's National Fire Prevention Week, and this year, the El Dorado Fire Department is emphasizing cooking safety.
Fire Chief Chad Mosby said firefighters will be visiting area schools throughout the week to teach local students how they can help prevent fires.
"We go around several places and do some fire prevention talks, but we will also spend some time hitting the elementary schools and talking to the kids, that's something we really try to emphasize during Fire Prevention Week," he said.
Fire safety
With the holidays fast approaching, now's the time to start thinking about fire safety in the kitchen, Mosby said.
"You have to be prepared in the event that you do have some sort of fire, and have a kitchen-rated fire extinguisher available," Mosby advised, noting, "Not all fire extinguishers are rated for kitchen fires, so you need to have one that's rated for kitchen fires."
For a home, kitchen-rated fire extinguishers are available at local hardware stores, Mosby said. Commercial extinguishers must be inspected and certified, however.
Keeping a close watch on any food one is cooking is also paramount to preventing fires.
"Any time that you're cooking, you need to make sure that your cooking appliances are supervised; don't walk off from something that's cooking on the stove. Make sure you're monitoring it on a regular basis," Mosby said.
The National Fire Prevention Association also advises that one turn pot handles toward the back to the stove, to prevent them being knocked off; setting timers so one doesn't forget they're cooking something; and have a "kid-free" zone around food preparation areas, particularly where hot food or drinks are being made or carried.
Families should plan their response in advance in case of a house fire, according to the NFPA. Planning an escape route, testing smoke alarms and practicing home fire drills can all go a long way in preventing injury and death in the event of a residential fire.
Fall weather is finally settling in, and many are likely looking forward to burning their leaves or gathering around a bonfire, which Mosby also shared some tips for.
"The temperatures are nice and more and more people are wanting to get outside and do some outdoor burning; but then again, we always want you to be real careful when you do that," he said. "Keep the water hose handy, keep it supervised the entire time."
According to the NFPA, Fire Prevention Week is observed the week of October 9 in remembrance of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which "killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres of land."
"We emphasize fire prevention in October, but everybody really needs to practice fire prevention methods and concepts every day of the year," Mosby said. "We hope everybody stays safe coming up on the holiday, and every day – just be safe and prevent fires."