Fort Bragg Aims to 'Prevent Kitchen Fires' During Fire Prevention Week

Fire Prevention Week continues on Fort Bragg through October 12, and Fort Bragg’s Fire and Emergency Services Division is joining forces with the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to remind local residents to ‘Prevent Kitchen Fires.' During this year's fire safety campaign, fire departments will spread the word about the dangers of kitchen fires - most of which result from unattended cooking - and teach local residents how to prevent kitchen fires from starting in the first place.

According to the latest NFPA research, cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Two of every five home fires begin in the kitchen—more than any other place in the home. Cooking fires are also the leading cause of home fire-related injuries.

"Often when we're called to a fire that started in the kitchen, the residents tell us that they only left the kitchen for a few minutes," said Fort Bragg Fire Chief Mark Melvin. "Sadly, that's all it takes for a dangerous fire to start. We hope that Fire Prevention Week will help us reach folks on the installation before they've suffered a damaging lesson."

Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record and is actively supported by fire departments and communities across the country. Fort Bragg will be doing its part with displays and handouts at the Post Exchanges, Commissaries, Soldier Support Center and Womack Army Medical Center during the week. Among the safety tips that firefighters and safety advocates will be emphasizing:

• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, broiling, or boiling food.
• If you must leave the room, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• When you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, stay in the home, and use a timer to remind you.
• If you have young children, use the stove’s back burners whenever possible. Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the stove.
• When you cook, wear clothing with tight-fitting sleeves.
• Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels, and anything else that can burn, away from your stovetop.
• Clean up food and grease from burners and stovetops.

For more information on this or any other fire prevention topic, contact the Fort Bragg Fire Prevention office at 432-6727 or visit their website.