Orange Co. Fire Rescue serving up fire safety for National Fire Prevention Week

From the Orange County Newsroom

Kitchen fires continue to be the number one cause of house fires and home fire injuries. This year, Orange County Fire Rescue joins the National Fire Prevention Association and departments across the nation to highlight National Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 4 – 10, 2020) in sharing tips to help minimize the potential for fire and injury.

For many families, the kitchen is the heart of the home. At times, cooking takes place in tight spaces and around lots of activity, which can increase the potential for injury or accidental fire.

Here are a few tips to minimize the potential fire:

Pay attention. Most fires are attributed to unattended cooking. Never leave something cooking or heating up without attention.

Set boundaries to keep children at a safe distance (we recommend three feet) from hot stove or ovens, burners and plates.

Turn pot handles inward. Kids have a tendency to bump or grab handles, increasing their risk of getting burned.

Do not throw water on a grease fire. Instead, place a lid over the pot or pan if you can safely do so.

Keep a multi-purpose fire extinguisher nearby and PASS – Pull the pin, Aim at fire base, Squeeze lever and Sweep side to side.

Test your smoke alarms once month to ensure they are working.

Of course, if you need help, call 911 and firefighters will be on the way.

Orange County Fire Rescue is proud to employ some of the best fire prevention educators in the nation, and while their opportunity to teach face-to-face this year has been limited, they’ve done a great job helping to keep the message going. For more information, visit ocfrd.com.