Cook with care this holiday season
Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service offers fire prevention tips
Gathering with family and friends is a holiday tradition. As the festive season continues, Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service is urging everyone to pay special attention when cooking during these get-togethers.
Gathering with family and friends is a holiday tradition. As the festive season continues, Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service is urging everyone to pay special attention when cooking during these get-togethers.
Provincial statistics reveal that careless cooking is the number one cause of fires and the second leading cause of fatal fires. There are additional distractions during the holidays, so residents should be extra vigilant when cooking.
Residents should also make sure they have a working smoke alarm on every storey of their home and outside all sleeping areas. It only takes a few minutes to test your smoke alarms and make sure everyone in the home knows exactly what to do if the smoke alarms sound.
Here are some tips to help you have a fire safe holiday season:
- Stay in the kitchen when cooking. Cooking is a major cause of house fires, so don’t leave the kitchen if there’s something cooking on the stove.
- If a pot catches fire, don’t try to move it. Cover the pot with a lid to smother the flames and turn off the burner.
- Keep things that can burn, such as cooking utensils and paper towels, a safe distance from the stove as they can easily ignite if they are too close.
- Drink responsibly and keep an eye on those who do not. Excessive alcohol consumption is a contributing factor in many residential fires.
- Install and maintain working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms outside all sleeping areas of the home. Smoke alarms also are required on every storey. Failure to comply with the smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements can result in a ticket for $360 or a fine of up to $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for corporations.
- Develop and practice a home escape plan with everyone in the home.
For more fire safety information, visit vaughan.ca/fire.