Prevent Kitchen Fires —that’s the message of this year’s Fire Prevention Week
From October 6-12, The National Fire Protection Association will be spreading the word that more fires start in the kitchen than in any other part of the home. If you have a cooking fire have everyone in the house get out and close the door behind you. Call 9-1-1 after you leave.
Facts about Cooking and Fires
· 
U.S. Fire Departments responded to an estimated annual average of 156,600 cooking-related fires between 2007-2011, resulting in 400 civilian deaths, 5,080 civilian injuries and $853 million in direct damage.
· Two of every five home fires start in the kitchen.
· Unattended cooking was a factor in 34% of reported home cooking fires.
· Two-thirds of home cooking fires started with ignition of food or other cooking materials.
· Ranges accounted for the 58% of home cooking fire incidents. Ovens accounted for 16%.
· Children under five face a higher risk of non-fire burns associated with cooking than being burned in a cooking fire.
· Microwave ovens are one of the leading home products associated with scald burn injuries not related to fires. Nearly half (44%) of the microwave oven injuries seen at emergency rooms in 2011 were scald burns.
· Clothing was the item first ignited in less than 1% of home cooking fires, but these incidents accounted for 16% of the cooking fire deaths.
Easy-to-read handouts in other languages
The National Fire Protection Association website has easy-to-read educational handouts are available in multiple languages with illustrations representing varied cultures. Download and copy the new handouts to reach people in your community with important electrical safety information.
http://www.nfpa.org/education
