Monday, Oct. 9 through Friday, Oct. 13 is Fire Prevention Week.
The Greensboro Fire Department is asking the public to come to the Greensboro Science Center at 4301 Lawndale Ave. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily for a presentation on fire safety.
The theme of Fire Prevention Week this year is, “Cooking safety starts with you. Pay attention to fire prevention.” The idea is to education everyone about simple but meaningful actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe when cooking.
The event will have activities aimed at educating folks about fire safety, including a skit with Sparky the fire dog, a tour of a firetruck and gift bags.
The activities are suitable for children’s groups and the Greensboro Science Center is offering a discount to those who come to participate in Fire Prevention Week.
Attendees can also reserve a spot in the Fire Prevention Week interactive show. Each show can accommodate 40 participants and will feature Sparky the fire dog. The shows will be held daily at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has been sponsoring Fire Prevention Week since 1922 and President Calvin Coolidge recognized national Fire Prevention Week for the first time in 1925. The week of Oct. 9 was chosen as Fire Prevention Week in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire which began on Oct. 8, 1871.
Tips on cooking safety from the NFPA include:
• Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove or stovetop.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• If you are simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
• Keep anything that can catch fire – oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains – away from your stovetop.
In the event that you do have a fire and decide to fight it yourself.
• On the stovetop, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
Good tips. We had an oven fire. I used our kitchen fire extinguisher, it worked of course, but it made a huge mess both in the oven and in the kitchen. KISS principle.