Serving up fire safety in the kitchen
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Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service marks Fire Prevention Week
Did you know leaving food unattended in the kitchen while cooking is the leading cause of residential fires in Ontario?
Starting today, Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS) is participating – virtually – in Fire Prevention Week, and the theme this year is Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen! To mark this occasion, a series of videos will be posted on the City’s social media channels with tips and reminders to follow to be fire safe. The first video features a cooking demonstration with VFRS fire fighters, which can be seen on the City’s YouTube channel.
VFRS is also taking this opportunity to remind citizens about the following safety tips:
- Stay in the kitchen when cooking. If you must step away, turn off the stove.
- Keep children and pets away from stovetops.
- Roll up long sleeves and remove scarves or other dangling accessories, as loose-fitting clothing can catch fire.
- “Stop, drop and roll” if clothes catch fire.
- Ensure a proper-fitting pot lid is nearby to smother flames in the event of a fire.
- Keep flammable items – oven mitts, cooking utensils, dish cloths, paper towels and potholders – a safe distance from the stove.
- Have a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
- Remove all items from the stovetop when cooking is done.
- Use a heat-resistant surface to cool down hot cookware.
- Have a working smoke alarm and a home escape plan.
Created by the National Fire Prevention Association to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, Fire Prevention Week is a time to promote fire prevention and educate the community about fire safety.
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