Practice fire safety this holiday weekend

Stay in the kitchen when cooking and use flameless candles on your table

Did you know cooking is the number one cause of home fires in Ontario? Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS) is reminding everyone to practise fire prevention over the holiday weekend to help keep your family safe.

When you are cooking, remember these important safety tips:

• Stay in the kitchen while cooking. Turn off the stove if you must step away even for a moment and remove all items from the stovetop when you are finished cooking.
• Avoid all distractions and focus on the task in front of you.
• Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing while cooking as it can catch on fire.
• Keep flammable items – like oven mitts, cooking utensils, dish cloths, paper towels and potholders – a safe distance from the stove.
• Keep young kids away from the stove and turn pot handles away from the stove's edge to avoid them being knocked off accidentally.
• Use a heat-resistant surface to cool down hot cookware.
• Keep a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
• Ensure your home has working smoke alarms and test all alarms at least once a month by pressing the test button to ensure the alarm is working.
• Develop a home escape plan so everyone in your household knows what to do if an emergency occurs.

In case of a grease or oil fire, smother the flames by completely covering the pan or deep fryer with a large metal lid, cooking sheet or flat tray. Never use water to put out a grease or oil fire – it will cause the fire to spread.

Are you including candles on your holiday table setting? VFRS encourages you to always use non-flammable candle holders and place candles where they will not be knocked down, away from paper decorations, tablecloths and napkins. Never leave candles in a room unattended and be sure to keep them out of reach of children and pets. A better alternative is to use battery-powered flameless candles.

For more information and fire safety tips, visit vaughan.ca/fire. You can also visit the City of Vaughan’s YouTube channel to watch a kitchen safety video from VFRS.

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