Sachse Fire Rescue Reminds Residents to “Serve Up, Fire Safety in the Kitchen”

The 2020 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Prevention Week theme is ‘Serve Up, Fire Safety in the Kitchen’ and focuses on the dangers of kitchen fires--most of which result from unattended cooking--and teaching local residents how to prevent kitchen fires from starting in the first place.

According to the latest NFPA research, cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Two of every five home fires begin in the kitchen, more than any other place in the home. Cooking fires are also the leading cause of home fire-related injuries.


"Cooking happens in homes everyday, and all it takes is a few minutes of distraction or stepping away for a fire to start," said Fire Prevention Specialist, Diana. "It is your responsibility to protect yourself and your family from fire. Always remain alert and stay in the kitchen while cooking."

Among the safety tips that firefighters and fire safety advocates will be emphasizing:

• Always stay in the kitchen when cooking and turn off the stove if you must leave the kitchen.
• Keep a proper fitting lid near the stove. If a pot of oil catches fire, slide the lid over the pot and turn off the stove. Do not move the pot. Never throw water on a burning pot.
• Keep anything that burns - plastic utensils, dishcloths, paper towels - a safe distance from the stove.
• Cook responsibly. To prevent cooking fires, you must be alert. You will not be alert if you have consumed alcohol or drugs.
• Wear tight-fitting or rolled up sleeves when using the stove. Loose, dangling clothing can easily catch fire.
• Keep young kids 3 feet away from the stove. Turn pot handles away from the stove’s edge so they can’t be easily knocked off.
• If you burn yourself while cooking, run cool water over the wound for three to five minutes. If the burn is severe, seek medical attention.
• When you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home, and use a timer to remind you.
• If you have young children, use the stove's back burners whenever possible. Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the stove.
• Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels, and anything else that can burn, away from your stovetop.
• Clean up food and grease from burners and stovetops.
• Use small appliances responsibly and teach children the proper way to use them.

Unfortunately, this year we were unable to visit schools and daycares however we put together a video to share this years message 'virtually'.

Please take a moment to watch it.

To watch Click here

Fire Safety Connects with Learning

Check it out!