Prescott’s Chief Fire Prevention Officer says you should make sure kids keep their distance from your stove to make sure they don’t accidentally start a fire.
This week is Fire Prevention Week, an annual initiative to help educate people on how to avoid accidental housefires and prepare for emergencies.
Brent Norton says the theme this year is “cooking safety starts with you,” so firefighters are teaching people how to prevent and deal with kitchen fires.
“A lot of people multitask, so they have different things going on, and they leave the kitchen with things on the stove, which can cause a fire,” Norton says. “Also, another big issue is keeping your stovetop and oven burners clean. That could cause a fire if it’s not cleaned properly.”
If a pot does catch fire, Norton says you should turn the burner off, cover it with the lid, and call firefighters for help, even if the fire seems small and contained.
“It’s very important to make sure that it’s under control,” Norton says, “so, don’t try to fight a fire yourself. Call the fire department or call 9-1-1.”
If you want to learn more or have any questions about home fire safety, the Prescott Fire Department is running an open house this weekend, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturday.
