Salisbury Fire Department reminds residents: “Cooking safety starts with you”

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.” 

The Salisbury Fire Department encourages all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, “Cooking safety starts with YOU,” said Terry Smith, Salisbury Fire Marshal. “This theme is a reminder that our actions in the kitchen can make a difference. A cooking fire can grow quickly. I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented. Fire prevention starts with each one of us.”
The Salisbury Fire Department 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 the 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.

To find out more about local Fire Prevention Week programs and activities in our communities, contact Terry Smith, Salisbury Fire Marshal at (704) 638-4467 or visit www.Salisburync.gov/Fire. For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking safety, visit www.fpw.org. For fire safety fun for kids, visit sparky.org.