As part of Fire Prevention Week 2023, which runs October 8 to 14, Manitoba Municipal Relations is reminding all Manitobans of the small but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe from fire.
This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme, ‘Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention’ serves to remind people to stay alert and use caution when cooking to reduce the risk of kitchen fires. The Manitoba Office of the Fire Commissioner urges all Manitobans to check their kitchens for fire hazards and use safe cooking practices.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, and unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fire deaths.
- Some key cooking safety tips include:
- watch what you heat – set a timer to remind you that you are cooking;
- turn pot handles to the back of the stove;
- always keep a lid nearby when cooking and if a small grease fire starts, slide a lid over the pan and turn off the element;
- keep a three-foot child-free zone around the stove, oven and other appliances that could get hot.
The Manitoba government and Office of the Fire Commissioner, along with the Manitoba Firefighters’ Burn Fund and Manitoba Association of Fire Chiefs, launched a school contest inviting kindergarten to Grade 4 students across the province to draw a fire escape map of their home. For contest entry details and prizing, and to learn more about Fire Prevention Week activities across the province, visit manitoba.ca.
Fire Prevention Week is held during the week surrounding October 9 in Canada and the United States to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire in October 1871.
