PHOTO: This image provided by the National Fire Protection Association highlights this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign: “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.”
The Victoria Fire Department is partnering with Victoria ISD for a fun and educational show to remind students that cooking safety starts with them.
The fire department will present its 2023 fire prevention show, titled “Recipe for Safety,” for VISD students this week as part of Fire Prevention Week, a nationwide campaign to educate children and adults about common fire hazards.
The show, which will feature appearances by the Super Mario Bros., will teach students about steps they can take to keep themselves and others safe in the kitchen.
About Fire Prevention Week
The Victoria Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association—the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 100 years—to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.”
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 Victoria Fire Department offers and NFPA shared 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 yourself that you are cooking.
- Turn 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 three feet around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drinks are prepared or carried.
Stay connected
To learn more about Fire Prevention Week and cooking safety, visit www.fpw.org. For fire safety activities for kids, visit www.sparky.org.
To learn more about Victoria Fire Department events and programs, visit www.victoriatx.gov/fire.