Cooking fires spread rapidly and call for a quick response – this is where the volunteer firefighters of Sharon Hill Fire Company come in with their top-tier training.
To keep the community safe, Sharon Hill Fire Company is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years —to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!” from Oct. 4-10. The campaign works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.
According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires as well as home fire injuries in the United States. Almost half (44%) of reported home fires started in the kitchen. Two-thirds (66%) of home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.
Cooking fires are of course preventable and Sharon Hill Fire Company encourages all residents to embrace the 2020 Fire Prevention Week theme. “People are cooking in their homes more due to COVID-19 quarantining and we do not want cooking fires to increase as well, said John Croce, Recruitment and Retention Committee Chair.
“This is why we want to educate the public and keep everyone safe.”
To prevent cooking fires at home:
- Never leave cooking food unattended. Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling. If you have to leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
- If you are simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.
- You have to be alert when cooking. You won’t be alert if you are sleepy, have taken medicine or drugs, or consumed alcohol that makes you drowsy.
- Always keep an oven mitt and pan lid nearby when you’re cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan to smother the flame. Turn off the burner and leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.
- Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
If keeping the public safe and making a difference in the community sounds appealing, consider volunteering with Sharon Hill Fire Company. “We are always seeking volunteer firefighters to respond to fire calls from homes, businesses and industrial parks in the Sharon Hill Borough and surrounding areas,” said Croce. “No experience is necessary to join and we will train you with the best techniques to save lives and protect property.”
In addition to cooking safety, Sharon Hill Fire Company is concerned about Halloween safety. Volunteers are doing safety checks candy on October 31, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the station, and are also handing out candy. Sharon Hill Fire Company is located at 230 Sharon Ave., Sharon Hill.