It’s Fire Prevention Week!

North Bay Fire & Emergency Services reminds residents:

“Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention.”

North Bay, ON – Oct. 11, 2023 – North Bay Fire & Emergency Services 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.  

Cooking continues to be the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in Ontario, with unattended cooking the leading cause of cooking fires and deaths.

“Year after year, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires, accounting for approximately half of all home fires,” said Fire Chief Jason Whiteley.  “These numbers tell us that there is still much work to do when it comes to better educating the public about ways to stay safe when cooking.”

North Bay Fire & Emergency Services encourages all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, “Cooking safety start with YOU.”  Chief Whiteley stated, “A cooking fire can grow quickly. We have seen too many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”

North Bay Fire 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.

• NEVER throw water on a grease fire!

3. Have a “kid- and pet-free zone” of at least 3 feet (1 meter) around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

For more information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking safety, contact North Bay Fire & Emergency Services at 705-474-0626 ext. 4829 or visit www.fpw.org. For fire safety fun for kids, visit sparky.org.