Holidays heating up?

Cooking fires were responsible for the deaths of three people and the serious injury of two more over the past week in Ontario. Because these fires were easily preventable, the Prince Edward County Fire Department is urging residents to stay in the kitchen when cooking.

“The hustle and bustle of the holiday season means it can be very easy to become distracted and called away from the kitchen,” said Fire Prevention Officer Michael Branscombe. “Unattending cooking is the leading cause of residential fires in Ontario. People must stay in the kitchen to keep an eye on their cooking.”

Important steps to prevent cooking fires include:
§         Stay in the kitchen while you cook, particularly if you are using oil or high temperatures. If you must leave for any reason, turn off the stove.
§         Keep combustible items such as cooking utensils and paper towels a safe distance from your stove. They can easily ignite if they are too close to a burner.
§         Keep a tight-fitting lid near the stove when cooking. If a pot catches fire, slide the lid over the pot and turn off the stove.
§         Drink responsibly and keep an eye on those who do not. Excessive alcohol use often is a contributing factor in many residential fires.