Tips to stay safe during Fire Prevention Week

SPRINGFILED, Ill. (KBSI) – Fire Prevention Week is October 8-14 in Illinois.

It is a week for families to review procedures to take in case of at home fire.

This is the 101st anniversary of the week and this year the theme is “Cooking safety starts with YOU! Pay attention to fire prevention.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking is the leading cause of home fires, with nearly 49% of all home fires involving cooking equipment. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires and related deaths. In addition, NFPA data shows that cooking is the only major cause of fire that resulted in more fires and fire deaths in 2014-2018 than in 1980-1984.

The State of Illinois has provided the following tips to avoid a cooking fire:

• Always keep a close eye on what you’re cooking. For foods with longer cook times, such as those that are simmering or baking, set a timer to help monitor them carefully.
• Clear the cooking area of combustible items and anything that can easily burn, such as dish towels, oven mitts, food packaging, and paper towels.
• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
• Create a “kid and pet free zone” of at least three feet around the cooking area and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

Additionally, DCFS’s statewide program provides smoke alarms to families served by the department and have distributed 897 this year.

“In a fire, a few seconds can be the difference between a safe escape and a tragedy, and ensuring every family we serve has a working smoke alarm is a simple and important step we can take to save lives,” said Illinois DCFS Director Marc D. Smith.

• Three out of five home fire deaths result from fires in properties without working smoke alarms.
• More than one-third (38%) of home fire deaths result from fires in which no smoke alarms are present.
• The risk of dying in a home fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms.

Illinois requires a smoke alarm to be with 15 feet of every bedroom and and at least one on each floor of a house. Families served by DCFS may request smoke alarms or call their local field office.

More information on Fire Prevention Week can be found at www.fpw.org.