The Great Chicago Fire began on Oct. 8, 1871, and burned for 27 hours eventually ending on Oct. 9, resulting in the death of 300 people. This fire left 90,000 people homeless and destroyed 17,400 structures. In 1911, on the 40th anniversary of this tragic event, the Fire Marshal’s Association of North America began an effort to keep the public informed about the importance of fire prevention. Over the next nine years, their efforts were very effective and in 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the very first National Fire Prevention Day Proclamation. This proclamation created what is now known as “Fire Prevention Week”, which falls on the week in October where the eighth falls each year. In Scarborough, our efforts to spread the fire prevention message actually encompasses the entire month of October.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 2023 official theme for Fire Prevention Week is, “Cooking safety starts with YOU! Pay attention to Fire Prevention.” This year’s focus on cooking safety works to educate the public about simple but important steps they can take to help reduce the risk of fire when cooking at home, keeping themselves and those around them safe.
According to the NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of house fires, with nearly 49% of all house fires involving cooking equipment. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires and the associated injuries and deaths.
The following are examples of safety measures that you can take when cooking in your home:
● Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. For foods that require a longer cook time, set a timer to help monitor the foods carefully
● Clear the cooking area of combustible items and keep anything that can burn such as dish towels, oven mitts, food packaging and paper towels set away from the cooking area
● NEVER store combustible materials in your oven when not in use as you may forget they are inside when you preheat your oven
● Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Keep a lid nearby when cooking. If you experience a grease fire, slide the lid over the pan if you are able and turn the burner off. When in doubt, evacuate and call 911.
● Create a “kid and pet free zone” of at least three feet around the cooking area and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried
● Never leave food cooking unattended. If you must leave, even for a very short time, turn off all cooking appliances and remove items from the cooking surfaces until you return and are ready to monitor the cooking
Throughout the month of October, Scarborough Firefighters will be visiting our daycares and children in grades K-2, delivering tips on cooking safety. The children will be provided with kid friendly handouts, coloring activities and other items to bring home with them.
The Scarborough Fire Department is excited to announce that the Scarborough Fire Department Open House will be returning in October 2024 with more details to follow.
Your Scarborough Fire Department is committed to ensuring that the residents and visitors of our town remain safe and healthy. If you have any questions about our Fire Prevention Month activities or any other fire prevention related topics, please feel free to contact me at jbrennan@scarboroughmaine.org or at (207) 883-4542.
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