As Fire Prevention Week Approaches, St. John’s Regional Fire Department Reminds Residents: “Cooking Safety Starts With You. Pay Attention To Fire Prevention.”

It’s time for Fire Prevention Week, and from October 8 to 14, 2023, the St. John’s Regional Fire Department (SJRFD) is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week^TM (FPW) for more than 100 years — to promote this year’s FPW campaign, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention^TM.” The campaign works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take when cooking to keep themselves and those around them safe.

According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires and deaths. Year after year, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires by far. There is still much work to do when it comes to better educating the public about ways to stay safe when cooking.

The SJRFD encourages all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.” A cooking fire can grow quickly.

The SJRFD offers these key safety tips to help reduce the risk of a cooking fire.

1. Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
2. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid or cookie sheet nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
3. Have a “kid- and pet-free zone” of at least 1 metre (3 feet) around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

The SJRFD is hosting a series of events in support of this year’s FPW campaign, including the following.

Open House

• There will be an open house at West End, Mount Pearl and Paradise Fire Stations on Saturday, October 7, 2023.
• Hours will be from 2 to 4 p.m.
• There will be various types of firefighting equipment on display for the general public.
• This will also provide a great opportunity for citizens to meet and speak to our Firefighters and Fire Prevention Staff who will be happy to provide any safety tips.

Fire Prevention Display Booth

• Located at the Avalon Mall from October 10-14.
• Hours are as follows:

Tuesday: 1 to 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 1 to 8:30 p.m.
Thursday: 1 to 8:30 p.m.
Friday: 1 to 8:30 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• Fire safety information brochures are available, and Fire Prevention Staff will be there to answer all your safety questions.

School Visits and Fire Drills

Members of the SJRFD will be visiting schools in the region and talking with kids about fire safety as well as conducting and evaluating school fire drills.

Fire Chief for a Day

Children between the ages of seven and twelve years of age (Grades 4,5 & 6) are eligible to enter the “Fire Prevention Week Poster Contest.” To enter, children must create an 8 ½ x 11 posters, using the theme “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.”

Completed entries can be dropped off October 10-13, 2023, from 1:00 pm to 8:30 pm, and October 14, 2023 from 10:00 to 4:00 pm at the Fire Prevention Booth located in the Avalon Mall. You can also bring them to the St. John’s Regional Fire Department Administration Office (entrance off Parade Street) between the hours of 9:30 am and 4:00 pm before October 13, 2023. Please ensure that the child’s name, school, age and telephone number are placed on the back of the poster.

For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking safety, visit www.fpw.org. For fire safety fun for kids, visit sparky.org.