Focus is on Kitchen Fires During Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 6-12

A news release:

Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 6-12. The Urbandale Fire Department will observe it with an open house from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at Station 41, 7100 Douglas Ave.

The focus this year is on preventing kitchen fires. Demonstrations will include theproper way to extinguish cooking fires.

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires. What makes this unfortunate is that cooking related fires are very preventable. Here are a few safety tips for the next time you are cooking:

• Never leave food cooking on the stove or on a grill unattended.
• Keep combustible materials such as towels, boxes, and plastic items away from the cooking area.
• Use a timer to keep track of your cooking. A smoke detector shouldn’t be the way you find out your food is done cooking!
• In the event of a cooking fire involving grease do not use water! The best way to extinguish a fire in a pot or pan is to put the lid on it and turn the heat off to the pot or pan. It really is that simple!
• Got a fire extinguisher at home? Do you know what types of fires it can be used on? How old is it? If you don’t know the answers to these questions now would be a good time to go find the answers before attempting to use a fire extinguisher on a fire!

Other Helpful Safety Information

• Replace home smoke detector and carbon monoxide (CO) batteries at least once a year.
• Replace home smoke detectors every 10 years and CO detectors every 7 years.
• Replacement home smoke detectors need to be dual sensor technology.
• Fire extinguishers in the home should be rated for ABC fires and be replaced every 7 years.
• Extension cords should only be used for short time use, not as a substitute for permanent wiring.
• Do you know 2 ways out of each area of your home? When was the last time you reviewed and practiced your home escape plan?
• Looking at building a new home or doing an extensive remodel? Install a home fire sprinkler system. They are reliable, effective, affordable, and in conjunction with smoke detectors offer the best chance of surviving a home fire and help to reduce the total cost of a fire event.

Learn More About Fire Safety

• www.homefiresprinkler.org - Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition
• www.nfpa.org - National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
• www.homesafetycouncil.org - Home Safety Council
• www.firesafehome.org - Residential Fire Safety Institute
• www.urbandale.org - UFD website