CANTON, GA (September 29, 2023) – As Fire Prevention Week approaches, Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services (CCFES) reminds residents: “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.”
CCFES is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention WeekTM (FPW) for more than 100 years — to promote this year’s FPW campaign, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire preventionTM.” The campaign works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take when cooking to keep themselves and those around them safe.
According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires and deaths.
“Year after year, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires by far, accounting for half (49 percent) of all U.S. home fires,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of outreach and advocacy at NFPA. “These numbers tell us that there is still much work to do when it comes to better educating the public about ways to stay safe when cooking.”
“Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services encourages all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, “Cooking safety start with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention”, said Fire Marshal Chad Arp. “A cooking fire can grow quickly. I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”
CCFES offers these key safety tips to help reduce the risk of a cooking fire:
- Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
- Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
- Have a “kid- and pet-free zone” of at least 3 feet (1 meter) around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
CCFES is hosting a series of events in support of this year’s FPW campaign, including Safety Superhero Day on October 14th from 10am-1pm at the Ball Ground Community Center located at 250 Civic Drive in Ball Ground.
To find out more about FPW programs and activities in Cherokee County, please contact the Cherokee County Fire Marshal’s Office at 678-493-6290. For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking safety, visit www.fpw.org. For fire safety fun for kids, visit sparky.org.
ABOUT CCFES
Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services is a full service, county-run organization, providing firefighting and emergency services to the residents and visitors of Cherokee County. The agency boasts an Insurance Service Office rating of 2 and International Accreditation through the Center of Public Safety Excellence. The agency has 27 stations covering 434 square miles and serving a population of nearly 275,000. To learn more about CCFES or how to join the team, visit www.cherokeecountyfire.com.
