Georgina Fire and Rescue Services offers cooking safety tips for residents

Fire Prevention Week takes place Oct. 8 to 14

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 21, 2023

As Fire Prevention Week approaches, the Georgina fire department has a message for residents: Cooking safety starts with you. Pay attention to fire prevention.

“Year after year, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires by far. This tells us that there is still much work to do when it comes to better educating the public about ways to stay safe when cooking. Cooking safety starts with you,” said Chief Ron Jenkins.

“A cooking fire can grow quickly. I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”

This year’s Fire Prevention Week takes place from Oct. 8 to 14, and residents can support the campaign by implementing fire prevention practices with everyone in their household.

Georgina Fire and Rescue Services recommends following these safety tips to help reduce the risk of fire while cooking: Always watch what you are cooking and set a timer to remind you that you are cooking; turn pot handles toward the back of the stove and always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner; and have a “kid- and pet-free zone” of at least one metre around the stove or grill, and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

Georgina Fire and Rescue Services is hosting its annual open house at the Sutton Fire Hall, 37 Snooks Rd., on Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in support of Fire Prevention Week. The event will include a free barbecue and interactive stations. For more information, go to georgina.ca/fire.