JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Joint Base San Antonio Fire Emergency Services is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association, or NFPA – the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years — to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign titled “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!”
The campaign works to educate people about simple, but important, actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.
According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Almost half (44 percent) of reported home fires started in the kitchen. Two-thirds of home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.
“We know cooking fires can be prevented,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice-president of outreach and advocacy. “Staying in the kitchen, using a timer, and avoiding distractions such as electronics or TV are steps everyone can take to keep families safe in their homes.”
“JBSA Fire Emergency Services encourages all residents to embrace the 2020 Fire Prevention Week theme,” said Mark R. Ledford, JBSA Fire Chief.
“The most important step you should take before making a meal is to ‘serve up fire safety in the kitchen,” added Darrin Tannert, JBSA Lead Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention. “A cooking fire can grow quickly. I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”
The JBSA-Fire Emergency Services has these safety tips to help people from having a cooking fire.
- Never leave cooking food unattended. Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling. If you have to leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
- If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly. Remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.
- Be alert when cooking. You won’t be alert if you are sleepy, have taken medicine or drugs, or consumed alcohol that makes you drowsy.
- Always keep an oven mitt and pan lid nearby when you’re cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan to smother the flame. Turn off the burner and leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.
- Have a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
In a ceremony Oct. 1, Brig. Gen. Caroline M. Miller, commander, 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio, will proclaim Oct. 4-10 as Fire Prevention Week throughout JBSA.
For fire safety information, contact the JBSA fire prevention offices at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston at 210-221-3465, at JBSA-Lackland at 210-671-2921, and at JBSA-Randolph at 210-652-6915. For more general information about Fire Prevention Week, visit http://www.fpw.org and https://www.nfpa.org/fpw.
Editor’s Note: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year's JBSA Fire Department Open House has been canceled.